Information processing method and information processing program

ABSTRACT

An information processing method to be carried out by a terminal of a user who is included in a first group including a first plurality of users and in a second group including a second plurality of users, including displaying a first image including first contents transmitted and received among first terminals of the first plurality of users in the first group on a display region of the terminal, and transmitting, via a communication interface of the terminal, information relating to a first content among the first contents included in the first image displayed on the display region and a second content inputted via the terminal, the second content associated with the first content and included in a second image including second contents transmitted and received between second terminals of the second plurality of users in the second group may be provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. § 365(c) from PCT International Application No.PCT/JP2018/044770, which has an International filing date of Dec. 5,2018 and designates the United States of America, which claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-226442,filed on Dec. 3, 2018 in the Japanese Intellectual Property Office(KIPO), the entire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to information processing methods andinformation processing programs.

Description of Related Art

Techniques have been proposed in relation to instant messengers thatallow a plurality of users to transmit and receive messages among theirterminals. In such techniques, it is desirable, for example, to be ableto easily share information among users.

SUMMARY

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, aninformation processing method is provided. The information processingmethod is to be carried out by a terminal of a user who is included in afirst group including a first plurality of users and in a second groupincluding a second plurality of users. The information processing methodincludes displaying a first image including first contents transmittedand received among first terminals of the first plurality of users inthe first group on a display region of the terminal, and transmitting,via a communication interface of the terminal, information relating to afirst content among the first contents included in the first imagedisplayed on the display region and a second content inputted via theterminal, the second content associated with the first content andincluded in a second image including second contents transmitted andreceived between second terminals of the second plurality of users inthe second group.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, aninformation processing program is provided. The information processingprogram is to be executed by a terminal of a user who is included in afirst group including a first plurality of users and in a second groupincluding a second plurality of users, the information processingprogram, when executed, causes the terminal to display a first imageincluding first contents transmitted and received among first terminalsof the first plurality of users in the first group on a display regionof the terminal, and transmit, by a communication interface of theterminal, information relating to a first content among the firstcontents included in the first image displayed on the display region anda second content inputted via the terminal, the second contentassociated with the first content and included in a second imageincluding second contents transmitted and received between secondterminals of the second plurality of users in the second group.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, aninformation processing method is provided. The information processingmethod is to be carried out by a terminal of a user who is included in asecond group including a second plurality of users. The informationprocessing method includes displaying a second image including a secondcontent among second contents transmitted and received among secondterminals of the second plurality of users in the second group on adisplay region of the terminal, the second content being associated witha first content in a first image including first contents transmittedand received from first terminals of a first plurality of users includedin a first group, and displaying, a third image including the firstcontent associated with the second content on the display region basedon an input of the user of the terminal to the second image displayed onthe display region.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, aninformation processing program is provided. The information processingprogram is to be executed by a terminal of a user who is included in asecond group including a second plurality of users, the informationprocessing program, when executed, causes the terminal to display asecond image including a second content among second contentstransmitted and received among second terminals of the second pluralityof users in the second group on a display region of the terminal, thesecond content being associated with a first content in a first imageincluding first contents transmitted and received among first terminalsof a first plurality of users included in a first group, and display athird image including the first content associated with the secondcontent on the display region based on an input of the user of theterminal to the second image displayed on the display region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a communication system according to anexample embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a first example embodiment.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are diagrams illustrating Talkroom information andcontent information.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to the first example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating processes for accepting a citationrequest.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processes relating to the generationof a citation content.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating processes relating to the generationof a citation content, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating processesrelating to the transmission of a citation content.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating processes relating to setting adestination of the citation content, and FIG. 8B is a diagramillustrating processes after the transmission of the citation content.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a second example embodiment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating processes relating to thedisplaying of first content candidates.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a third example embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating a process relating to displaying incases where citation is permitted, and FIG. 12B is a diagramillustrating a process relating to displaying in cases where citation isnot permitted.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a fourth example embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a fifth example embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a sixth example embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a seventh example embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating Talkroom information.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to an eighth example embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processes relating to the displayingof a third image.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a ninth example embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating processes relating to the displayingof a second image and a third image.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating processes relating to the displayingof a second image and a third image.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a tenth example embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to an eleventh example embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating processes relating to the displayingof a second image in cases where the displaying of a third image is notpermitted.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a twelfth example embodiment.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams illustrating processes relating to thedisplaying of a second image including a content for which displaying ofa third image is permitted and processes relating to the displaying of asecond image including a content for which displaying of a third imageis not permitted.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a thirteenth example embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a fourteenth example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

{Compliance with Legal Requirements}

It should be noted that the disclosure provided herein is premised oncompliance with legal requirements in terms of secrecy of communicationin a country/region in which techniques or methods according to thepresent disclosure are to be implemented.

Some example embodiments of information processing methods andinformation processing programs according to the present disclosure willbe described with reference to the drawings.

{System Configuration}

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a communicationsystem according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, a communication system 1 includes a server 10 anda plurality of terminals 20. The terminals 20 are connected to theserver 10 via a network 30. The network 30 may be a portion of thecommunication system 1, or may be a portion of a system other than thecommunication system 1. The server 10 provides, via the network 30 tothe terminals 20 used by respective users, a service for allowing theterminals 20 to transmit and receive message(s) (referred to as “acontent” or “contents” as appropriate).

In FIG. 1, the plurality of terminals 20 include a terminal 20A, aterminal 20B, a terminal 20C, and a terminal 20D. In the followingdescription, for the purpose of distinguishing the terminals 20 from oneanother, each terminal is indicated by reference signs 20A, 20B, 20C or20D as appropriate. The number of terminals 20 to be connected to thenetwork 30 is not limited to the number illustrated in FIG. 1, and anynumber of the terminals may be employed. The number of servers 10 to beconnected to the network 30 is not limited to the number illustrated inFIG. 1, and any number of the servers may be employed.

The network 30 serves to connect one or more of the terminals 20 to oneor more of the servers 10. That is, the network 30 serves as acommunication network that provides a connection path to enable theterminal(s) 20, once connected to the server(s) 10, to transmit andreceive data.

One or a plurality of portions of the network 30 may be a wired networkor a wireless network. For example, without limitation, the network 30may include one, or a combination of two or more, communication forms ofan ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network(referred to as “VPN” as appropriate), a local area network (referred toas “LAN” as appropriate), a wireless LAN (referred to as “WLAN” asappropriate), a wide area network (referred to as “WAN” as appropriate),a wireless WAN (referred to as “WWAN” as appropriate), a metropolitanarea network (referred to as “MAN” as appropriate), a portion of theInternet, a portion of the public switched telephone network (referredto as “PSTN” as appropriate), a mobile phone network, integrated servicedigital networks (referred to as “ISDNs” as appropriate), radio LANs,long term evolution (referred to as “LTE” as appropriate), code divisionmultiple access (referred to as “CDMA” as appropriate), Bluetooth(registered trademark), or satellite communication. The network 30 maybe constituted by a single network, or may be constituted by a pluralityof networks.

The terminals 20 may each be any kind of terminal that is an informationprocessing terminal capable of implementing functions. For example,without limitation, each of the terminals 20 may be a smartphone, amobile phone (such as a feature phone), a computer (for example, withoutlimitation, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computerplatform (for example, without limitation, a set-top box for receivingsignals for cable TV broadcasting, satellite broadcasting, terrestrialTV broadcasting and/or IP broadcasting and converting the signals intovideo signals, a digital video recorder, etc.), a handheld computerdevice (for example, without limitation, a personal digital assistant(referred to as “PDA” as appropriate), a communication terminalinstalled with an electronic mail client, etc.), a wearable terminal(for example, without limitation, an eyeglasses-type device, awatch-type device, etc.), or any one of other types of computers and/orcommunication platforms. The terminals 20 may also be referred to asinformation processing terminals.

Among the plurality of terminals 20, at least one of the terminals mayhave the same configuration as another terminal, or at least one of theterminals may have a different configuration from the other terminals.FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a terminal 20A as an example of aconfiguration of the terminal 20. One or more of the terminals 20B, 20C,and 20D may have the same configuration as the terminal 20A, or may havea different configuration from the terminal 20A.

In the following description, information relating to a user in adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) service, being associated witha terminal 20 or the user of a terminal 20 is referred to as userinformation, as appropriate. The user information is informationrelating to a user associated with an account that is employed by theuser in the desired (or alternatively, predetermined) service. The userinformation may include information inputted by the user, and/orinformation assigned by the desired (or alternatively, predetermined)service. For example, without limitation, the user information includesat least a piece of information among a plurality of pieces ofinformation including user's name, an icon image of the user, user'sage, user's gender, user's address, user's hobbies/preferences, anduser's identifier. The user information may include information that isassociated with the user, but is different from the aforementionedplurality of pieces of information.

The server 10 functions to provide a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) service to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be anyinformation processing device capable of implementing functions. Forexample, without limitation, the server 10 may be a server device, acomputer (e.g., without limitation, a desktop, a laptop, or a tablet), amedia computer platform (e.g., without limitation, a set-top box forreceiving signals for cable TV broadcasting, satellite broadcasting,terrestrial TV broadcasting and/or IP broadcasting and converting thesignals into video signals, or a digital video recorder), a handheldcomputer device (e.g., without limitation, a PDA or a communicationterminal installed with an electronic mail client), or any one of othertypes of computers and/or communication platforms. The server 10 mayalso be referred to as an information processing device. The type ofhardware may not be distinguished between the server 10 and the terminal20. For example, the two may be referred to as an information processingdevice or may be named differently.

{Hardware Configuration}

A hardware configuration of each device included in the communicationsystem 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In the followingdescription, hardware is referred to as HW, as appropriate.

(1) HW Configuration of Terminal

The terminal 20 includes a processor 21, a communication interface (I/F)(alternatively referred to as communication interface circuitry) 22, aninput/output device 23, and a storage 24. For example, withoutlimitation, the constituent elements of the HW of the terminal 20 areinterconnected via a bus B2.

The communication I/F 22 is a communication interface that is configuredto transmit and/or receive various data via the network 30. Thecommunication may be carried out in a wired and/or wireless manner, andmay be based on any communication protocol that enables mutualcommunication to be carried out. The communication I/F 22 functions tocommunicate with the server 10 via the network 30. The communication I/F22 is configured to transmit various data to the server 10 in accordancewith instructions from the processing unit 21. Further, thecommunication I/F 22 is configured to receive various data transmittedfrom the server 10 and convey the data to the processing unit 21. Thecommunication I/F 22 may be referred to as a communication unit. Thecommunication I/F 22 may also be referred to as a communication circuitin cases where the communication I/F is constituted by a physicallystructured circuit.

For example, without limitation, the input/output device 23 includes aninput unit 23A that is configured to accept an input to the terminal 20,and an output unit 23B that is configured to output a processing resultthat is processed by the terminal 20.

The input unit 23A may be implemented by any one of, or a combination oftwo or more of, all types of devices capable of accepting an input froman outside of the terminal 20 and conveying information about the inputto the processor 21. For example, without limitation, the input unit 23Amay include one or a combination of two or more of hardware keys such asa keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a touch pad; an operationunit of a touch panel, a camera, a microphone, and/or other inputdevices. The input unit 23A of FIG. 1 includes an input device 25, amicrophone 26, and a camera 27.

The input device 25 is an operation unit that is configured to accept aninput via user operation. For example, without limitation, the inputdevice 25 may include one or a combination of two or more of anoperation unit of a touch panel, a touch pad, hardware keys, and/or apointing device. For example, without limitation, the input device 25 isconfigured to detect contact to the input device 25 by, for example,user's finger, and convey the detection result to the processing unit21.

The microphone 26 is an audio input unit employed for inputting audiodata. For example, without limitation, the microphone 26 is configuredto convert inputted audio into digital-format audio data. The terminal20 may convey the audio data acquired via the microphone 26 to theprocessor 21, and/or may store the data in the storage 24. The processor21 may recognize the audio inputted to the microphone 26, and/or mayacquire a command or information which is associated in advance with therecognized audio. The terminal 20 may accept an operation input viaaudio.

The camera 27 is an image-capturing unit that is configured to carry outimage capturing. For example, without limitation, the camera 27 isconfigured to generate digital-format image data as a result of imagecapturing. The camera 27 may acquire a moving image by repeatedlyacquiring still images. The terminal 20 may convey the image dataacquired by the camera 27 to the processor 21, and/or may store the datain the storage 24. The processor 21 may recognize the image acquired bythe camera 27, and/or may acquire a command or information which isassociated in advance with the recognized image. The terminal 20 mayaccept an operation input via a moving image.

The input unit 23A may not include at least one of the input device 25,the microphone 26, or the camera 27. The input unit 23A may includedevices (e.g., without limitation, various sensors such as anacceleration sensor) other than the input device 25, the microphone 26,and the camera 27. One or more of the input device 25, the microphone26, and the camera 27 may be an external device connected to theterminal 20. The input/output unit 23 may include an input interface,such as an input terminal, for connection with the external device. Forexample, the input/output unit 23 may not include the microphone 26, butinstead, may have an input terminal to be connected with an outputterminal of an external microphone. The input/output unit 23 may notinclude the input interface.

The output unit 23B may be implemented by any one of, or a combinationof two or more of, all the types of devices capable of outputting aprocessing result from processing performed by the processor 21. Forexample, without limitation, the output unit may include one or acombination of two or more of an audio output unit (e.g., a speaker)that is configured to output audio, a display that is configured todisplay an image, an optical output unit (e.g., a lens,three-dimensional (referred to as “3D” as appropriate) output unitand/or hologram output unit, or a projector) that is configured tooutput light, or a printer. The output unit 23B of FIG. 1 includes adisplay 28 and a speaker 29.

The display 28 may be implemented by any one of, or a combination of twoor more of, all the types of devices capable of providing display inaccordance with display data written in a frame buffer. For example,without limitation, the display 28 may include one or a combination oftwo or more of a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescencedisplay (referred to as “OELD” as appropriate), an electrophoreticdisplay, a plasma display, a head mounted display (referred to as “HMD”as appropriate), or a projector.

The display 28 may be a device that is configured to display an objecton a panel, a screen, or the like, or may be a device, such as ahologram device, that is configured to display an object in a space inthe air, in other gases, or in a vacuum, for example. The display 28 maybe a device that is configured to display a two-dimensionally visibleimage, or may be a device that is configured to display athree-dimensionally visible image. The display 28 may display, as animage, information including one or a combination of two or more of ashape, a pattern, a figure, a symbol, and/or text.

For example, without limitation, the input device 25 and the display 28may be a touch panel. In this case, the input device 25 may include anoperation unit of the touch panel, and the display 28 may include adisplay region of the touch panel. The display 28 may have substantiallythe same size and shape as the input device 25, and may be superposed onand integrated with the input device 25. The input device 25 and thedisplay 28 may not have to be a touch panel, and/or the input device 25and the display 28 may be separate.

The speaker 29 is employed for outputting audio data. For example,without limitation, the speaker 29 is configured to convertdigital-format audio data into an analog-format electric signal, andreproduce the audio by causing vibration of an object by the electricsignal.

The output unit 23B may not have to include one, or both, of the display28 and the speaker 29. The output unit 23B may include devices otherthan the display 28 and the speaker 29. The display 28 and/or thespeaker 29 may be an external device other than the terminal 20. Theinput/output unit 23 may include an output interface, such as an outputterminal, for connection with the external device. For example, theinput/output unit 23 may not include the speaker 29, but instead, mayhave an output terminal to be connected with an input terminal of anexternal speaker. The input/output unit 23 may not have to include theoutput interface.

For example, without limitation, the processor 21 may carry out one or acombination of two or more of: control processing for controlling thevarious constituent elements of the terminal 20, various types ofcomputation processing, and/or various types of image processing. Theprocessor 21 may be implemented by, for example, without limitation, adata processing device embedded in hardware and including a physicallystructured circuit for executing functions implemented by codes orcommands included in a program. Thus, the processor 21 may be referredto as a processing circuit, or may be named differently.

For example, without limitation, the processor 21 may include one or acombination of two or more of, a central processing unit (referred to as“CPU” as appropriate), a microprocessor, a processor core, amultiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (referred toas “ASIC” as appropriate), a field programmable gate array (referred toas “FPGA” as appropriate), and/or other circuits. The processor 21 mayinclude a general-purpose processor, and/or include a processing circuitor an integrated system that performs only processes determined inadvance.

The storage 24 functions to store various programs and/or various datanecessary for the terminal 20 to operate. For example, withoutlimitation, the storage 24 may include one or a combination of two ormore of various storage media, such as a hard disk drive (referred to as“HDD” as appropriate), a solid state drive (referred to as “SSD” asappropriate), a flash memory, a random access memory (referred to as“RAM” as appropriate), a read only memory (referred to as “ROM” asappropriate), and the like. The storage 24 may be referred to as amemory, or may be named differently.

The terminal 20 stores a program P1 in the storage 24. With the programP1 executed, the processor 21 carries out processing as the variousunits included in the processor 21. Stated differently, the program P1stored in the storage 24 materializes various functions viaimplementation of the processor 21 in the terminal 20. The program P1causes the processor 21 (for example, without limitation, a CPU or acomputer) of the terminal 20 to carry out processing. The program P1 maybe referred to as a program module, or may be named differently.

The terminal 20 may include a portion of the aforementioned constituentelements of the HW. The terminal 20 may include constituent elementsother than the aforementioned constituent elements of the HW.

(2) HW Configuration of Server

The server 10 includes a processor 11, a communication I/F 12, a storage13, and an input/output unit 14. For example, without limitation, theconstituent elements of the HW of the server 10 are interconnected via abus B1. Note that the HW of the server 10 does not necessarily have toinclude all the constituent elements as the configuration of the HW ofthe server 10. For example, without limitation, the HW of the server 10may or may not be configured such that at least a portion of theinput/output unit 14 is removable.

For example, without limitation, the processor 11 may carry out one or acombination of two or more of control processing for controlling thevarious constituent elements of the server 10, various types ofcomputation processing, and/or various types of image processing. Theprocessor 11 may be implemented by, for example, without limitation, adata processing device embedded in hardware and including a physicallystructured circuit for executing functions implemented by codes orcommands included in a program. Thus, the processor 11 may be referredto as a processing circuit, or may be named differently.

For example, without limitation, the processor 11 may include one or acombination of two or more of a CPU, a microprocessor, a processor core,a multiprocessor, an ASIC; a FPGA, and/or other circuits. The processor11 may include a general-purpose processor, and/or include a processingcircuit or an integrated system that performs only processes that aredetermined in advance.

The communication I/F 12 is a communication interface that is configuredto transmit and/or receive various data via the network 30.Communication may be carried out in a wired and/or wireless manner andmay be based on any communication protocol that enables mutualcommunication to be carried out. The communication I/F 12 functions tocommunicate with the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communicationI/F 12 is configured to transmit various data to the terminal 20 inaccordance with instructions from the processor 11. Further, thecommunication I/F 12 is configured to receive various data transmittedfrom the terminal 20 and convey the data to the processor 11. Thecommunication I/F 12 may be referred to as a communication unit. Thecommunication I/F 12 may also be referred to as a communication circuitin cases where the communication I/F is constituted by a physicallystructured circuit.

The storage 13 functions to store various programs and/or various datadesired for the server 10 to operate. For example, without limitation,the storage 13 may include one or a combination of two or more ofvarious storage media, such as a HDD, a SSD, a flash memory, a RAM, aROM, and the like. The storage 13 may be referred to as a memory, or maybe named differently.

For example, without limitation, the input/output unit 14 includes aninput unit 15 that is configured to accept an input to the server 10,and an output unit 16 that is configured to output a processing resultfrom processing performed by the server 10. The input unit 15 may beimplemented by any one of, or a combination of two or more of, all typesof devices capable of accepting an input from outside the server 10 andconveying information about the input to the processor 11. For example,without limitation, the input unit 15 may include one or a combinationof two or more of hardware keys (e.g., a keyboard), a pointing device(e.g., a mouse), a touch pad, an operation unit of a touch panel, acamera, a microphone, and/or other input devices. The output unit 16 maybe implemented by any one of, or a combination of two or more of, allthe types of devices capable of outputting processing results fromprocessing performed by the processor 11. For example, withoutlimitation, the output unit 16 may include one or a combination of twoor more of an audio output unit (e.g., a speaker) that is configured tooutput audio, a display that is configured to display an image, anoptical output unit (e.g., a lens, a 3D output device, a hologram outputdevice, or a projector) that is configured to output light, a printer,and/or other output devices.

For example, without limitation, the output unit 16 includes a display17. The display 17 may be implemented by any one of, or a combination oftwo or more of, all the types of devices capable of providing display inaccordance with display data written in a frame buffer. For example,without limitation, the display 17 may include one or a combination oftwo or more of a liquid crystal display, an OELD, an electrophoreticdisplay, a plasma display, a HMD, a projector, and/or other displaydevices. The display 17 may be a device that is configured to display anobject on a panel, a screen, or the like, or may be a device, such as ahologram, that is configured to display an object in a space in the air,in other gases, or in a vacuum, for example. The display 17 may be adevice that is configured to display a two-dimensionally visible image,or may be a device that is configured to display a three-dimensionallyvisible image. The display 17 may display, as an image, informationincluding one or a combination of two or more of a shape, a pattern, afigure, a symbol, and/or text.

The input/output unit 14 may not include the input unit 15 and/or theoutput unit 16. The input/output unit 14 may instead include aninterface to which the input unit 15 is to be connected. Theinput/output unit 14 may not include the aforementioned interface. Theinput/output unit 14 may not include the output unit 16, but insteadinclude an interface to which the output unit 16 is to be connected. Theinput/output unit 14 may not to include the aforementioned interface.

The server 10 stores a program P2 in the storage 13. With the program P2executed, the processor 11 carries out processing as the various unitsincluded in the processor 11. Stated differently, the program P2 storedin the storage 13 materializes various functions via implementation ofthe processor 11 within the server 10. The program P2 causes theprocessor 11 (for example, without limitation, a CPU or a computer) ofthe server 10 to carry out processing. The program P2 may or may not bereferred to as a program module.

In some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor 11of the server 10 may be described as a CPU and the processor 21 of theterminal 20 may be described as a CPU. In this case, the server 10implements an information processing method in the server 10 by makingthe CPU of the server 10 execute the program P2. The program P2 makesthe CPU of the server 10 function as various functional units of theserver 10. The terminal 20 implements an information processing methodin the terminal 20 by making the CPU of the terminal 20 execute theprogram P1. The program P1 makes the CPU of the terminal 20 function asvarious functional units of the terminal 20. For example, withoutlimitation, the functional units include one or a combination of two ormore of a control unit, a computation unit, and/or an image-processor.

The processor 21 of the terminal 20 and/or the processor 11 of theserver 10 may implement at least a portion of the processes with adedicated circuit or a logic circuit, which is hardware formed on, forexample, an integrated circuit (referred to as “IC” as appropriate) or alarge-scale integration (referred to as “LSI” as appropriate). The logiccircuit and/or the dedicated circuit may be implemented by a singleintegrated circuit, or may be implemented by a plurality of integratedcircuits. The various processes described in some example embodimentsmay be implemented by a single integrated circuit, or may be implementedby a plurality of integrated circuits. LSI may be referred to as VLSI,super LSI, ultra LSI, and/or the like depending on the degree ofintegration. Further, the processor 21 of the terminal 20 and/or theprocessor 11 of the server 10 may implement at least a portion of theprocesses by a CPU having a processing circuit and the aforementionedlogic circuit or dedicated circuit. The processor 21 of the terminal 20and/or the processor 11 of the server 10 may not have to include theaforementioned logic circuit or dedicated circuit.

The programs (e.g., without limitation, software programs, computerprograms, and/or program modules) in the present disclosure may beprovided in a state where the programs are stored on a computer-readablestorage medium, or may be provided in other forms. The storage medium iscapable of storing a program in a “non-transitory tangible medium”. Theprograms according to the present disclosure may be for implementingsome functions of the example embodiments, or may be for implementingall the functions of the example embodiments, or may include functionsother than those of the example embodiments. The program according tothe present disclosure may or may not achieve the functions of thevarious example embodiments in combination with a program alreadyrecorded on a storage medium, such as a differential file (differentialprogram).

The storage medium may include one of, or a suitable combination of twoor more of one or a plurality of semiconductor-based or other integratedcircuits (e.g., without limitation, FPGAs and/or ASICs), HDDs, hybridhard drives (referred to as “HHDs” as appropriate), optical discs,optical disc drives (referred to as “ODDs” as appropriate),magneto-optical discs; magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppydisk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, SSDs, RAM drives, Secure Digitalcards, drives, and/or any other appropriate storage media. Whereappropriate, the storage medium may consist only of a volatile storagemedium, consist only of a non-volatile storage medium, or be acombination of volatile and non-volatile storage media. The storagemedium is not limited to these examples and may be any device or mediumthat is capable of storing the program(s). The storage medium may bereferred to as a memory, or may be named differently.

The programs according to the present disclosure may be provided to theserver 10 and/or the terminal 20 via any transmission media (e.g.,without limitation, a communication network, broadcast waves, etc.) thatis capable of transmitting the programs, or may be provided in otherforms. For example, without limitation, the server 10 and/or theterminal 20 may implement the functions of functional units (forexample, without limitation, a control unit, a computation unit, and/oran image-processor) by executing a program downloaded via the Internetor the like.

Some example embodiments of the present disclosure may also beimplemented in the form of a data signal that is embedded in a carrierwave and in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission. Atleast a portion of processes in the server 10 may or may not beimplemented by cloud computing constituted by one or more computers. Atleast a portion of processes in the terminal 20 may or may not beimplemented by cloud computing constituted by one or more computers. Atleast a portion of processes in the terminal 20 according to someexample embodiments may be carried out by the server 10. In this case,the server 10 may execute at least a portion of processes of the variousfunctional units (e.g., without limitation, a control unit, acomputation unit, and/or an image-processor) of the processor 21 of theterminal 20. In some example embodiments, all of the processes of theterminal 20 may be executed by the terminal 20. In some exampleembodiments, at least a portion of processes in the server 10 may becarried out by the terminal 20. In this case, the terminal 20 mayexecute at least a portion of processes of the various functional units(for example, without limitation, a control unit, a computation unit,and/or an image-processor) of the processor 11 of the server 10. In someexample embodiments, all of the processes of the server 10 may beexecuted by the server 10. In some example embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a configuration for determination is not be included unlessexplicitly mentioned otherwise, and a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) process may be activated in case a determinationcondition is satisfied, or a desired (or alternatively, predetermined)process may be activated in case a determination condition is notsatisfied, although not limited thereto.

The programs according to the present disclosure may be implementedusing, for example, without limitation, a script language such asActionScript and/or JavaScript (registered trademark), anobject-oriented programming language such as Objective-C and/or Java(registered trademark), or a markup language such as HTML5.

The information processing methods according to some example embodimentsprovide, for example, without limitation, a service for transmitting andreceiving contents among terminals 20 corresponding to a group includinga plurality of users. In the following description, the user of terminal20A is referred to as user A, the user of terminal 20B is referred to asuser B, the user of terminal 20C is referred to as user C, and the userof terminal 20D is referred to as user D. The number of users includedin a single group may be any number that is two or greater. For example,a single group may be constituted by user A and user B, and in thiscase, the number of users included in this group is two. In some exampleembodiments, another group may be constituted by user A, user B, user C,and user D, and in this case, the number of users included in this groupis four.

In the following description, a service provided by an informationprocessing method according to example embodiments may be referred to asa messaging service, as appropriate. For example, without limitation,the terminal 20 is configured to display an image of a graphical userinterface (referred to as “GUI” as appropriate) provided by themessaging service. In the following description, “Talkroom” may refer,as appropriate, to a GUI through which contents transmitted and receivedamong terminals of users in a group (hereinafter, for the purpose ofavoiding wording redundancy, the expression “terminals corresponding toa group” is sometimes used as the same meaning, as appropriate)including a plurality of users can be viewed by the users includedtherein. A Talkroom corresponding to a first group may be referred to asa first Talkroom, and a Talkroom corresponding to a second group may bereferred to as a second Talkroom.

For example, without limitation, the display 28 includes a displayregion 28A (illustrated in FIG. 2) in which a plurality of pixels arearranged, and is configured to display an image of a Talkroom on thedisplay region 28A. A “first image” including contents transmitted andreceived among terminals corresponding to a first group including aplurality of users is equivalent to an “image of a first Talkroom” or“first Talkroom image”. A “second image” including contents transmittedand received among terminals corresponding to a second group including aplurality of users is equivalent to an “image of a second Talkroom” or“second Talkroom image”.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned content may includeone or a combination of two or more of text, an image, and/or audio. Forexample, without limitation, text included in the content may includeone or a combination of two or more of characters used in variouscountries expressed by character codes, escape characters,platform-dependent characters, numbers, symbols, figures, and/or signs.The text included in the content may not include at least one of theaforementioned characters, escape characters, platform-dependentcharacters, numbers, symbols, figures, or signs, and may include othertypes of text.

For example, without limitation, an image included in the content mayinclude one or a combination of two or more of a captured image capturedby a camera, a processed image obtained by applying image processing ona captured image, a computer graphics image (e.g., without limitation,an icon, an emoji, and/or an emoticon) generated using a computer,and/or a text image obtained by making text into an image. The imageincluded in the content may include a composite image made bycompositing two or more of the aforementioned captured images, processedimages, computer graphics images, and/or text images. The image includedin the content may not include at least one of the aforementionedcaptured image, processed image, computer graphics image, text image, orcomposite image, and may include other types of images. The imageincluded in the content may be a still image, a moving image, or animage according to other types of form. For example, without limitation,a content including an image may be shown in a Talkroom image as anicon, such as a thumbnail. For example, without limitation, the terminal20 may display an image included in the content on the basis of input toan icon representing the image included in the content.

For example, without limitation, audio included in the content mayinclude one or a combination of two or more of recorded audio recordedwith a microphone, processed audio obtained by applying processing onrecorded audio, synthetic audio generated using a computer, and/orreadout audio obtained by converting text using, for example, a readoutfunction of a computer. The audio included in the content may includecomposite audio made by combining two or more of the aforementionedrecorded audio, processed audio, synthetic audio, and/or readout audio.The audio included in the content may not include at least one of theaforementioned recorded audio, processed audio, synthetic audio, readoutaudio, or composite audio, and may include other types of audio. Theaudio included in the content may include one or a combination of two ormore of sound or voice emitted by a human being or a living creatureother than a human being, sound emitted by an object such as a musicalinstrument or a machine, a sound effect, ambient sound, noise, and/or analarm. The audio may not include at least one of the aforementionedsounds or voices, and may include audio other than the aforementionedsounds or voices. For example, without limitation, a content includingaudio may be shown as an icon, etc. in a Talkroom image. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 may reproduce audio included in thecontent on the basis of input to an icon representing the audio includedin the content.

For example, without limitation, the content may be a content made bycombining two or more of the aforementioned text, images, and/or audio.For example, without limitation, the content may be a content in which amoving image is reproduced concurrently with audio, or may be a contentin which an image and text are displayed in combination, or may be acontent in which text is displayed in accordance with the reproductionof audio. The content may be a content in which audio is reproducedconcurrently with the displaying of text and images. For example,without limitation, the content may be a content made by combining oneor a combination of two or more of text, an image and/or audio, and acontent other than text, images, or audio.

For example, without limitation, the storage 24 of the terminal 20 isconfigured to store information to be used in the messaging service. Forexample, without limitation, the information may include accountinformation D1, Talkroom information D2, content information D3, andhistory information D4. The Talkroom information D2, the contentinformation D3, and the history information D4 will be described furtherbelow.

The account information D1 is information relating to an accountemployed by the user of the terminal 20 in the messaging service. Theaccount information D1 is information used for user authentication inthe messaging service. For example, without limitation, the accountinformation D1 may include identification information of the user and apassword. In the following description, the identification informationof the user is referred to as a user ID, as appropriate. The user ID maybe information registered by the user of the terminal 20, or may beinformation assigned by the messaging service.

The storage 24 may not store the user ID and/or the password. Forexample, upon user authentication in the messaging service, the user mayoperate the input/output unit 23 of the terminal 20 and input either theuser ID and/or the password, whichever is desired. The accountinformation D1 may include information other than the user ID and thepassword. For example, in cases where biometric authentication isemployed for the user authentication, the account information D1 mayinclude, as information used for biometric authentication, informationsuch as user's fingerprints, vein patterns, and/or a photograph of theirface.

The storage 24 may not store at least a portion of the information usedfor the messaging service (e.g., without limitation, the Talkroominformation D2, the content information D3, and/or the historyinformation D4). For example, at least a portion of the information usedfor the messaging service may be stored in a storage being external tothe terminal 20 (for example, without limitation, the storage 13 of theserver 10). For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 may acquirethe information used for the messaging service from a storage beingexternal to the terminal 20 via the network 30.

For example, without limitation, the storage 13 of the server 10 isconfigured to store information to be used in the messaging service. Forexample, without limitation, the information may include userinformation D6, content information D7, and Talkroom information D8. Forexample, without limitation, the user information D6 may include userIDs and passwords associated with the respective accounts in themessaging service. In the messaging service, the terminal 20 transmitsthe account information D1. When receiving the account information D1transmitted from the terminal 20, the server 10 checks the user ID andpassword, which are included in the account information D1, against theuser information D6, to specify the user associated with the terminal20. The content information D7 and the Talkroom information D8 will bedescribed further below.

Information processing methods according to some example embodiments aredescribed below. In the following description, reference should be made,as appropriate, to FIG. 1 and the explanation thereon regarding thevarious constituent elements of the communication system 1.

First Example Embodiment

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a first example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. This example embodiment is aconfiguration wherein a terminal 20 of a user who is included in a firstgroup and also included in a second group, transmits, via acommunication unit (e.g., the communication I/F 22) thereof, informationrelating to a first content included in a first Talkroom and a secondcontent. In the upper-right diagram of FIG. 2, an image T1 of a firstTalkroom includes a content Q1, a content Q2, and a content Q3. Forexample, without limitation, the user selects a first content from amongthe contents (Q1, Q2, and Q3) included in the first Talkroom image T1,and inputs a second content via the input unit 23A of the terminal 20.In FIG. 2, the first content is the content Q1, and the second contentis a content Q4 (illustrated in the lower-right diagram). In FIG. 2, thefirst content Q1 is a text stating “How about holding an event?” and thesecond content Q4 is a text stating “How's your schedule?”.

The terminal 20 transmits: information relating to the first content andthe second content to a second Talkroom as the destination. For example,without limitation, when transmitting the second content associated withthe first content, the terminal 20 may transmit the information relatingto the first content by automatically attaching it to the secondcontent. In FIG. 2, the terminal 20 transmits the information relatingto the first content Q1, and the second content Q4. In FIG. 2, theinformation relating to the first content Q1 includes at least a portionof the first content Q1.

In the lower-right diagram of FIG. 2, an image T2 of a second Talkroomincludes a content Q5, a content Q6, and a content Q7. For example,without limitation, the content Q5 includes a content Q8 relating to thefirst content Q1 and the second content Q4. For example, withoutlimitation, the content Q8 relating to the first content is a contentbased on the information relating to the first content. The contentrelating to the first content may be a portion or the entirety of thefirst content, or may be a content generated by applying processing suchas compression, on the first content. In the lower-right diagram of FIG.2, the content Q8 is identical to the first content Q1. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A,an image of the second Talkroom including a content reproducing at leasta portion of the first content on the basis of the information relatingto the first content.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 generates an image ofthe second Talkroom by arranging the content relating to the firstcontent, and the second content, according to a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) positional relationship, and displays thegenerated second Talkroom image on the display region 28A. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A,a second Talkroom image T2 including the content Q5, which includes aset of the content Q8 relating to the first content and the secondcontent Q4. For example, without limitation, the content Q5 is a contentciting the first content Q1. In the following description, a “citationcontent” refers, as appropriate, to a content (the content Q5 in FIG. 2)including a set of a content relating to the first content (the contentQ8 in FIG. 2) and the second content (the content Q4 in FIG. 2).

For example, without limitation, the user of the terminal 20 thattransmit the second content Q4 can convey information included in thefirst Talkroom (e.g., the first content Q1) to the user(s) in the secondTalkroom. For example, without limitation, at the terminal 20, it ispossible to include, in the second Talkroom image, a second content thatis inputted via the subject terminal, and, at the same time, informationrelating to the first content associated with the second content. Inthis way, the information processing method according to this exampleembodiment can contribute to sharing of information among users includedin the first group and users included in the second group. For example,without limitation, the user of the terminal 20, which transmits thesecond content Q4, can easily convey information included in the firstTalkroom to users in the second Talkroom.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing exampleembodiments are accompanied by the same reference signs and explanationthereon is omitted or simplified, as appropriate. In FIG. 2, the firstgroup is constituted by user A and user B, and the second group isconstituted by user A, user B, user C, and user D.

The reference sign TL in the upper-left diagram of FIG. 2 indicates animage illustrating a list of Talkrooms. For example, without limitation,the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, an image TL of alist of Talkrooms associated with the subject terminal or the userthereof. For example, without limitation, Talkrooms associated with thesubject terminal or the user thereof are Talkrooms including the user ofthe subject terminal. For example, without limitation, in cases wherethere is a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) input via the inputunit 23A with respect to the Talkroom list image TL, the terminal 20determines that a Talkroom is selected. In the Talkroom list image TL inFIG. 2, {User B}, {User C}, {User D}, {Baseball Club}, and {Cat Lovers}are icons accompanied by the names of the respective Talkrooms. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where there is an input via theinput unit 23A with respect to the {User B} icon, the terminal 20determines that the Talkroom named {User B} is selected. For example,without limitation, in cases where the display region 28A is a displayregion of a touch panel and the input device 25 is an operation unitthereof, the terminal 20 determines that the Talkroom named {User B} isselected when the {User B} icon displayed on the display region 28A istapped, and displays an image of the Talkroom named {User B} on thedisplay region 28A, as illustrated in the upper-right diagram of FIG. 2.

For example, without limitation, each user can create a Talkroom. Whencreating a Talkroom, a user selects one or more users, to therebycreate, in the messaging service, a Talkroom including the usersselected by the user. Processes for creating a Talkroom may be carriedout by the terminal 20, or may be carried out by the server 10, or maybe carried out by both the terminal 20 and the server 10. The processesfor creating a Talkroom may be carried out by a device other than theterminal 20 and the server 10.

In each image illustrating a Talkroom, reference sign Ta indicates thename of the Talkroom. In cases where the number of users included in agroup is two, the name of the Talkroom may, for example, withoutlimitation, be set to the name of the other user. In this example, theusers included in the first group are user A and user B, and thus, theuser name of the terminal 20B, which is the counterpart of the terminal20A, is “User B”. The terminal 20A may or may not display “User B” asthe name of this Talkroom. In cases where the number of users includedin a group is three or greater, the name of the Talkroom may, forexample, without limitation, be set to a name inputted by the user. Forexample, without limitation, the name of a Talkroom may be assignedautomatically in the messaging service, and/or may be expressed as theTalkroom's identification information, for example.

In the first Talkroom image T1, the content Q1 and the content Q3 are,respectively, contents inputted via the subject terminal (terminal 20Ain this example). For example, without limitation, the terminal 20displays contents inputted via the input unit 23A of the subjectterminal so as to line up the inputted contents in a first directionwith respect to the Talkroom image. For example, without limitation, thefirst direction is the longitudinal direction of the Talkroom image, anda second direction intersecting with the first direction is the lateraldirection of the Talkroom image. For example, the contents Q1 and Q3 inthe first Talkroom image T1 of FIG. 2 are contents inputted via thesubject terminal (terminal 20A in this example), and are lined up in thelongitudinal direction and are arranged closer to one side in thelateral direction of the Talkroom image T1.

In the Talkroom image T1, the content Q2 is a content transmitted from aterminal (terminal 20B in this example) other than the subject terminal(terminal 20A in this example). In the following description, terminalsother than the subject terminal are referred to as object terminals, asappropriate. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays acontent transmitted from object terminals at a position, in the seconddirection, different from the content transmitted from the subjectterminal. For example, without limitation, the content Q2 in theTalkroom image T1 of FIG. 2 is a content transmitted from an objectterminal (terminal 20B in this example), and is arranged on the oppositeside from the contents Q1 and Q3 in the lateral direction of theTalkroom image T1.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 arranges, a set of eachcontent transmitted from an object terminal and information relating tothe user of the terminal 20 that transmitted the content within theTalkroom image. For example, without limitation, the informationrelating to the user may include one or a combination of two or more ofuser's icon, user's name, and/or a user ID. In the Talkroom image, thereference signs Ub1, Uc1, and Ud1 respectively indicate icons of user B,user C, and user D, respectively. In the Talkroom image, the referencesigns Uc2, and Ud2 respectively indicate the names of user C, and userD, respectively.

In the Talkroom image T1, the reference sign Ub1 indicates an icon ofthe user of the object terminal (terminal 20B in this example) thattransmitted the content. The terminal 20 arranges the content Q2 and theicon Ub1 of the user of the terminal 20B that transmitted the content Q2within the Talkroom image T1 according to a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) positional relationship. The information relating to theuser may not include at least one of the user's icon, the user's name,or the user ID, and may include information other than the user's icon,the user's name, and/or the user ID. The terminal 20 may not include theaforementioned information relating to the user in the Talkroom image.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays each Talkroomimage on the display region 28A by lining up the contents in thatTalkroom in the first direction in an order according to time at whichthe respective contents were transmitted. For example, in the firstTalkroom image T1, the content Q2 is a content transmitted after thecontent Q1, and is thus arranged below the content Q1 in thelongitudinal direction of the Talkroom image T1.

For example, without limitation, the second content is a contentincluding one or a combination of two or more of text, an image and/oraudio inputted via the input unit 23A of the terminal 20. For example,without limitation, inputting of the second content may involve one or acombination of two or more of inputting a text via user operation to theinput device 25, inputting audio via the microphone 26, inputting a textvia voice recognition of the audio inputted via the microphone 26,inputting an image captured by the camera 27, and/or inputting a fileselected via user operation to the input device 25. For example, withoutlimitation, the file may include one or a combination of two or more ofaudio data, image data, and/or other data. The file may include a fileof data stored in the storage 24, and/or may include a file of datastored in another storage other than the storage 24 (e.g., withoutlimitation, a storage of a device connected via the network 30).

For example, without limitation, in case where the {Baseball Club} iconin the Talkroom list image TL illustrated in the lower-left diagram ofFIG. 2 is tapped, the terminal 20 displays an image T2 of the Talkroomwith the name “Baseball Club” on the display region 28A, as illustratedin the lower-right diagram of FIG. 2. In this example, the Talkroomnamed “Baseball Club” is considered as the second Talkroom. The secondTalkroom image T2 serves as a second image including a contenttransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to the secondgroup. The second content Q4 is associated with the first content Q1,and is included in the second image including a content transmitted andreceived among the terminals corresponding to the second group. Theterminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, the second Talkroomimage T2 including the second content Q4 associated with the firstcontent Q1 in the first Talkroom image T1. For example, withoutlimitation, the content Q5 is a citation content that cites the firstcontent Q1 in the first Talkroom image T1, and is included in the secondTalkroom image T2. For example, without limitation, the content Q5includes the second content Q4, and at least a portion of the firstcontent Q1 associated with the second content Q4. A reference sign Q6indicates a content transmitted from the terminal 20C of the user C, anda reference sign Q7 indicates a content transmitted from the terminal20D of the user D.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned information relatingto the first content is information used by a device retaining thisinformation to reproduce at least a portion of the first content. Forexample, without limitation, the device retaining the informationrelating to the first content may be one or a combination of two or moreof the terminal 20 transmitting the information relating to the firstcontent, the server 10 receiving the information relating to the firstcontent, a terminal 20 receiving the information relating to the firstcontent via the server 10, and/or a device other than the aforementioneddevices.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays, on thedisplay region 28A, an image of a Talkroom on the basis of the Talkroominformation D2 and the content information D3 illustrated in FIG. 1. Anexample of the Talkroom information D2 and an example of the contentinformation D3 are described below.

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of Talkroom information.For example, without limitation, the Talkroom information D2 may includeitems such as a Talkroom ID, a name, a user ID, and a content. TheTalkroom ID includes identification information of a Talkroom. Forexample, without limitation, the Talkroom ID is assigned in themessaging service when a user creates a Talkroom. In this example, theTalkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr01} is considered as the firstTalkroom (see the Talkroom image T1 of FIG. 2), and the Talkroom whose{Talkroom ID} is {tr04} is considered as the second Talkroom (see thesecond Talkroom image T2 of FIG. 2).

For example, without limitation, {Name} includes names of the Talkrooms.{Name} is associated with {Talkroom ID}. For example, the {Name} of theTalkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr01} is {User B}, and the {Name} ofthe Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr04} is {Baseball Club}.

For example, without limitation, {User ID} includes identificationinformation of users included in the group corresponding to eachTalkroom. {User ID} is associated with {Talkroom ID}. For example, theusers included in the group corresponding to the Talkroom whose{Talkroom ID} is {tr01} are users A and B, and the {User ID}corresponding to {tr01} includes a user ID of the user A and a user IDof the user B. Further, the users included in the group corresponding tothe Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr04} are users A, B, C, and D, andthe {User ID} corresponding to {tr04} includes the user ID of the userA, the user ID of the user B, a user ID of the user C, and a user ID ofthe user D.

For example, without limitation, {Contents List} includes informationindicating a list of contents included in each Talkroom. {Contents List}is associated with {Talkroom ID}. For example, contents included in theTalkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr01} are described by {List 1} whichis a portion of the content information D3. Further, contents includedin the Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr04} are described by {List 4}which is a portion of the content information D3.

FIGS. 3B and 3C are diagrams respectively illustrating some examples ofcontent information. FIG. 3A is a portion of the content information D3and corresponds to {List 1} of FIG. A). FIG. 3C is a portion of thecontent information D3 and corresponds to {List 4} of FIG. 3A. Forexample, without limitation, the content information D3 may includeitems such as {Content ID}, {Transmission User ID}, {Content}, and{Association Information}.

{Content ID} includes identification information of the respectivecontents. For example, without limitation, the identificationinformation of each content is assigned in the messaging service when aterminal 20 transmits the content. In this example, the content whose{Content ID} is {tr01c01} corresponds to the content Q1 in the firstTalkroom image T1 of FIG. 2. Similarly, the content whose {Content ID}is {tr01c02} corresponds to the content Q2, and the content whose{Content ID} is {tr01c03} corresponds to the content Q3.

For example, without limitation, {Transmission User ID} is a user IDcorresponding to the terminal 20 that transmitted the respectivecontent. {Transmission User ID} is associated with {Content ID}. Forexample, based on the content whose {Content ID} is {tr01c01}, a usercorresponding to the terminal 20 that transmitted the content is theuser A, and {Transmission User ID} corresponding to {tr01c01} includesthe user ID of the user A. Based on the content whose {Content ID} is{tr01c02}, a user corresponding to the terminal 20 that transmitted thecontent is the user B, and {Transmission User ID} corresponding to{tr01c02} includes the user ID of the user B.

For example, without limitation, {Contents} includes data describing therespective contents. In cases where the content includes a text, the{Contents} may store text data of the content. In cases where thecontent includes an image, the {Content} may store image data, a link tothe image data, or an address of a storage storing the image data. Forexample, without limitation, the image data may include still image dataand/or moving image data. For example, without limitation, the imagedata may or may not include data expressing a stamp, a sticker, anemoji, and/or an emoticon. In cases where the content included audio,the {Contents} may store audio data, a link to the audio data, or anaddress of a storage storing the audio data.

{Contents} is associated with {Content ID}. For example, the content Q1illustrated in the upper-right diagram of FIG. 2 is a text stating “Howabout holding an event?”, and the {Contents} corresponding to thecontent ID {tr01c01} stores text data describing “How about holding anevent?”. The content Q2 illustrated in the upper-right diagram of FIG. 2is a text stating “Let's ask the Baseball Club”, and the {Contents}corresponding to the content ID {tr01c02} stores text data describing“Let's ask the Baseball Club”.

For example, without limitation, {Association Information} includesinformation describing association with another content. In case wherethe content is the aforementioned second content and is associated withthe first content, the {Association Information} of the second contentincludes, for example, without limitation, identification information ofthe first content. For example, without limitation, {AssociationInformation} is at least a portion of the information relating to thefirst content. {Association Information} is associated with {ContentID}. In FIG. 3B, the content whose {Content ID} is {tr01c01} is notassociated with any content, and the {Association Information}corresponding to {tr01c01} is {NULL}. {NULL} is information indicatingthat there is no data.

FIG. 3C corresponds to {List 4}, which is a content list whose {TalkroomID} in FIG. 3A is {tr04}. The content whose {Content ID} is {tr04c01}corresponds to the content Q4 in the second Talkroom image T2illustrated in the lower-right diagram of FIG. 2. The content Q4 isassociated with the content Q1 in the first Talkroom image T1illustrated in the upper-right diagram of FIG. 2. In this case, in FIG.3C, the {Association Information} whose {Content ID} corresponds to{tr04c01} includes {tr01c01}, which is the identification information ofthe content Q1.

The terminal 20, in cases of transmitting a content from the subjectterminal, registers the content to be transmitted at the contentinformation D3 of the Talkroom including that content. Further, in casesof receiving a content from an object terminal, the terminal 20registers the received content at the content information D3 of theTalkroom including that content. For example, without limitation, thehistory information D4 stored in the storage 24 illustrated in FIG. 1includes information relating to the history of transmitted and receivedcontents. For example, for a content transmitted from the subjectterminal, the history information D4 may include information thatassociates the identification information of the content withtransmission clock time. Further, for a content received from an objectterminal, the history information D4 may include information thatassociates the identification information of the content with receptionclock time. For example, without limitation, the history information D4may include the time history and/or frequency as to each Talkroom hasbeen used. The expression “Talkroom has been used” means, for example,that one or a combination of two or more of actions, such as displayingof the Talkroom in the subject terminal, transmission of a content inthe Talkroom, and/or reception of a content in the Talkroom, has/havebeen executed.

For example, without limitation, at the time of displaying the secondcontent on the display region 28A, the terminal 20 specifies the firstcontent by referencing the {Association Information}. For example, atthe time of displaying, on the display region 28A, the second Talkroomimage T2 including the citation content Q5 illustrated in thelower-right diagram of FIG. 2, the processor 21 references the{Association Information} whose {Content ID} is {tr04c01} in FIG. 3C.Then, the processor 21 acquires {tr01c01}, which is the identificationinformation of the first content, as the {Association Information}.Then, the processor 21 references the content information D3 of thefirst Talkroom illustrated in FIG. 3B, and acquires the {Contents}corresponding to {tr01c01} under {Content ID}. The processor 21generates the second Talkroom image T2 including the citation content Q5by arranging the {Contents} acquired from the content information D3 ofthe first Talkroom illustrated in FIG. 3B as the first content, and the{Contents} acquired from the content information D3 of the secondTalkroom illustrated in FIG. 3C as the second content, according to adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) positional relationship. Bycontrolling the display 28, the processor 21 displays the secondTalkroom image T2 on the display region 28A.

The {Association Information} is not limited to the format illustratedin FIGS. 3(B) and 3(C). For example, without limitation, the informationrelating to the first content may include information other than theidentification information of the first content. For example, the{Association Information} of the second content may include the entirefirst content, and/or may include information obtained by processing thefirst content. The information obtained by processing the first contentis information generated on the basis of the first content, and may be,for example, information obtained by extracting a portion of the firstcontent, or information obtained by compressing the first content.

For example, without limitation, the storage 13 of the server 10illustrated in FIG. 1 stores the content information D7 and the Talkroominformation D8. For example, without limitation, the Talkroominformation D8 is information including the Talkroom information D2 ofeach of a plurality of terminals 20. For example, the Talkroominformation D8 includes the Talkroom information D2 associated with theterminal 20A or the user A thereof, and the Talkroom information D2associated with the terminal 20B or the user B thereof.

For example, without limitation, the content information D7 may includeinformation of a content transmitted by each of a plurality of terminals20. For example, the content information D7 is information including thecontent information D3 of each of the plurality of terminals 20. Forexample, without limitation, in cases of receiving a content transmittedfrom a terminal 20, the server 10 temporarily stores the receivedcontent in the storage 13. For example, without limitation, the server10 checks the destination of the received content against the Talkroominformation D8, to specify the users included in the destinationTalkroom. For example, without limitation, the server 10 sets theterminals 20 of the specified users as the transmission destinations,and transmits (e.g., delivers) the content. As described above, forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmits, via the server10, a content to terminals 20 associated with the destination Talkroom.For example, without limitation, in cases of receiving the contenttransmitted by the server 10, each terminal 20 transmits a receptionnotification. For example, without limitation, in cases of receiving thereception notification transmitted by the terminal 20, the server 10deletes the content associated with the reception notification from thecontent information D7.

The server 10 may store contents received from the terminals 20 for adiscretionary (or alternatively, certain) period of time. The server 10may delete, according to an instruction from a user, at least a portionof the contents of a Talkroom including the user from the storage 13.The server 10 may not delete the contents received from the terminals 20from the storage 13.

For example, without limitation, in cases of transmitting the secondcontent, the terminal 20 generates a citation content including at leasta portion of the first content, the identification information of thefirst content, and the second content. For example, without limitation,the terminal 20 generates the citation content via the processor 21, andtransmits the citation content generated by the processor 21 via thecommunication I/F 22.

In the following description, the terminal 20 that transmits the secondcontent is referred to as a first terminal, and the terminal 20 thatdisplays the second Talkroom image including the second contenttransmitted by the first terminal is referred to as a second terminal,as appropriate. In FIG. 2, the second terminal is the first terminal.According to some example embodiments, however, the second terminal maybe a terminal 20 other than the first terminal and used by a userincluded in the second group.

For example, without limitation, the information relating to the firstcontent may include information for specifying the first content in themessaging service. For example, without limitation, the information forspecifying the first content is the identification information of thefirst content. For example, without limitation, a device retaining thefirst content may reproduce at least a portion of the first content onthe basis of the identification information of the first content. Forexample, without limitation, the identification information of the firstcontent Q1 in FIG. 2 is {tr01c01} in the content information D3illustrated in FIG. 3(B), and a device retaining the first content mayreproduce the first content Q1 by acquiring “How about holding anevent?” as the content whose {Content ID} is {tr01c01}. For example,without limitation, the device retaining the first content may be one ora combination of two or more of the terminal 20 transmitting theinformation relating to the first content, the server 10 receiving theinformation relating to the first content, a terminal 20 receiving theinformation relating to the first content via the server 10, and/or adevice other than the aforementioned devices.

It should be noted that the terminal 20 may not transmit the citationcontent. For example, without limitation, the server 10 may store thecontent information D7 including the first content in the storage 13,and the terminal 20 may transmit the identification information of thefirst content as the information relating to the first content. Forexample, without limitation, in cases of receiving the identificationinformation transmitted by the terminal 20, the server 10 may acquirethe first content from the content information D7 stored in the storage13 on the basis of the received identification information.

For example, without limitation, the server 10 may transmit at least aportion of the first content, the identification information of thefirst content, and the second content. For example, without limitation,in cases of receiving at least a portion of the first content, theidentification information of the first content, and the second contentas transmitted from the server 10, the terminal 20 may generate acitation content (for example, the content Q5 in the lower-right diagramof FIG. 2) on the basis of such information. The terminal 20 maydisplay, on the display region 28A, an image of a Talkroom including thegenerated citation content.

For example, without limitation, the server 10 may generate the citationcontent (e.g., the citation content Q5 in the lower-right diagram ofFIG. 2) as information including at least a portion of the firstcontent, the identification information of the first content, and thesecond content. The server 10 may transmit the generated citationcontent to, as destinations, the terminals 20 of users included in thesecond group.

A terminal 20 that received the second content may display, on thedisplay region 28A, the second content and at least a portion of thefirst content in a format different from the citation content (e.g., thecitation content Q5 in the lower-right diagram of FIG. 2). For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 that received the second content maydisplay at least a portion of the first content (for example, thecontent Q8 in the lower-right diagram of FIG. 2) and the second contentindependently as a single content on the display region 28A. Forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 may arrange the firstcontent and the second content separately in the second Talkroom image.For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 may arrange at least aportion of the first content in a first frame and arrange the secondcontent in a second frame that is different from the first frame, andarrange the first and second frames according to a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) positional relationship. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 may arrange the first frame, whichincludes at least a portion of the first content, and the second frame,which includes the second content, so as to line up the first frame andthe second frame in a desired (or alternatively, predetermined)direction (for example, the longitudinal direction) in the Talkroomimage.

In cases where the content includes an image, the image may be includedin the Talkroom image in a compressed form, or may be included in theTalkroom image in a non-compressed form. In cases where the contentincludes an image, the terminal 20 may, for example, without limitation,display a Talkroom image including a thumbnail obtained by compressingthe image in the content, and may display an image (e.g., the originalimage) having a larger amount of information than the thumbnail on thebasis of an input made to the thumbnail. In cases where the contentincludes audio, the terminal 20 may, for example, without limitation,display a Talkroom image including an icon for reproducing the audio asthe content.

A flow of an information processing method according to an first exampleembodiment will be described according to the configuration ofaforementioned communication system 1 with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to the first example embodiment.

For example, without limitation, when an application for the messagingservice is activated, the terminal 20 displays a Talkroom list image TLon the display region 28A, as illustrated in the upper-left diagram ofFIG. 2. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 reads out theTalkroom information D2 (see FIG. 3A) stored in the storage 24, andgenerates the Talkroom list image TL. Then, the processor 21 controlsthe display 28 so as to make the display 28 display the image TL. Incase where the user selects a Talkroom via the input unit 23A, theprocessor 21 displays an image of the Talkroom on the display region28A. In this example, a Talkroom selected by the user is considered asthe first Talkroom.

In operation S1, the terminal 20 displays an image of the firstTalkroom. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 generatesthe first Talkroom image T1 as illustrated in the upper-right diagram ofFIG. 2 on the basis of the Talkroom information D2 and the contentinformation D3 stored in the storage 24. For example, on the basis ofthe Talkroom information D2 illustrated in FIG. 3A, the processor 21specifies {List 1} as the content information corresponding to the firstTalkroom. Further, the processor 21 reads out the {List 1} illustratedin FIG. 3B from among the content information D3 stored in the storage24. The processor 21 then generates the first Talkroom image T1 in whichthe contents defined in the {List 1} are arranged according to a desired(or alternatively, predetermined) positional relationship. The processor21 then controls the display 28 to display the first Talkroom image T1on the display region 28A.

In operation S2, the terminal 20 determines whether or not there is arequest for citation. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example ofprocesses for accepting a citation request. The terminal 20 accepts aninput by a user to the first Talkroom image T1. In FIG. 5, the displayregion 28A is a portion of a touch panel, and the user can input varioustypes of information into the terminal 20 by operating the input device25 (see FIG. 1) superposed on the display region 28A. For example,without limitation, in case where it is detected that the content Q1displayed on the display region 28A has been long-pressed (e.g., pressedfor more than a threshold time) as illustrated in the upper diagram ofFIG. 5, the processor 21 displays a command window (e.g., a popupwindow) Tc on the display region 28A as illustrated in the lower diagramof FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, {Copy}, {Delete}, {Cite}, and {Save} are icons ofcommands for executing desired (or alternatively, predetermined)processes in relation to the selected content (the content Q1 in thisexample). For example, without limitation, in case where it is detectedthat the {Cite} icon has been tapped as illustrated in the lower diagramof FIG. 5, the processor 21 determines that there is a request forcitation.

It should be noted that the process for accepting a citation request isnot limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, in thelower diagram of FIG. 5, the terminal 20 displays a command window Tc(or alternatively, referred to as a command list or a menu) in which aplurality of command icons are lined up, but only the command icon for{Cite} may be displayed. In some example embodiments, the terminal 20may not display the {Cite} icon, but determine that there is a requestfor citation when, for example, it is detected that the content Q1 hasbeen tapped. Further, the input device 25 may not be the operation unitof the touch panel. For example, in cases where the input device 25 is amouse, the user may move the pointer within the display region 28A ontothe content Q1 by operating the mouse, and click the mouse to select thecontent or display a command. Further, in the upper diagram of FIG. 5,the icon used for inputting a citation request is displayed by the useroperation to the input device 25, but the icon may be displayed on thedisplay region 28A in advance. In some example embodiments, the terminal20 may accept a citation request through a device other than the inputdevice 25. For example, the terminal may accept a citation requestthrough audio input using the microphone 26.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 4, in case where the processor 21determines that there is a citation request in operation S2 (operationS2: Yes), the terminal 20, for example, without limitation, generatescitation content in operation S3. Then, the terminal 20 designates orsets the destination of the citation content in operation S4, andtransmits the citation content in operation S5. In case where theprocessor 21 determines that there is no citation request in operationS2 (operation S2: No), or after the process of operation S5, theterminal 20 ends the series of processes relating to the transmission ofthe second content and the information relating to the first content.Below, an example of processes after operation S2 will be described withreference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processes relating tothe generation of a citation content. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustratingan example of processes relating to the generation of citation content,and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of processes relatingto the transmission of the citation content. FIG. 8A is a diagramillustrating an example of processes relating to setting a destinationof the citation content, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating anexample of processes after the transmission of the citation content.

The processes in operations S11 to S14 illustrated in FIG. 6 correspondto the process in operation S3 illustrated in FIG. 4. In operation S11,the processor 21 acquires the identification information of the firstcontent. For example, without limitation, in case where it is detectedthat the {Cite} icon has been tapped after the content Q1 has beenselected as illustrated in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the processor 21acquires the identification information of the content Q1. In operationS12, the processor 21 displays the first content on the display region28A on the basis of the identification information of the first contentacquired in operation S11. For example, without limitation, in operationS11, the processor 21 acquires {tr01c01} as illustrated in FIG. 3B asthe identification information of the first content, and specifies “Howabout holding an event?”, which is the {Content} corresponding to{tr01c01}, as the first content. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, theprocessor 21 displays a software keyboard Td on the display region 28A,and also arranges an information window Te according to a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) positional relationship with respect tothe software keyboard Td and arranges at least a portion of thespecified first content in the information window Te. The user can inputthe second content with the software keyboard Td while referencing thefirst content shown in the information window Te.

In operation S13 of FIG. 6, the terminal 20 acquires the second contentinputted by the user. For example, the input unit 23A detects the inputfrom the user, and the processor 21 acquires, from the input unit 23A,the information inputted by the user. Then, in operation S14, theterminal 20 associates the first content and the second content. Forexample, the processor 21 associates the first content and the secondcontent by registering the identification information of the firstcontent acquired in operation S11 into the association information ofthe second content. For example, in the content information D3illustrated in FIG. 3C, the processor 21 registers {tr01c01}, which isthe {Content ID} of the first content, into the {AssociationInformation} of the content whose {Content ID} is {tr04c01}, which isthe second content. For example, without limitation, the processor 21generates a citation content by associating, as a set, at least aportion of the first content, the identification information of thefirst content, and the second content.

As illustrated in FIG. 7B, after the user completes inputting the secondcontent, the user transmits the second content via the terminal 20.Reference sign Tf in FIG. 7B indicates an icon for a command to executetransmission. By using the icon Tf, the user can transmit the secondcontent. For example, without limitation, in case where it is detectedthat the icon Tf has been long-pressed (e.g., pressed for more than athreshold time), the terminal 20 displays a list Tg indicatingcandidates for the second group (e.g., a destination of the secondcontent) on the display region 28A, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. Forexample, without limitation, the candidates for the second group aregroups associated with the identification information of the subjectterminal or of the user thereof. For example, the candidates for thesecond group are groups including the user of the subject terminal. Forexample, without limitation, by referencing the Talkroom information D2,the processor 21 displays the list Tg of the candidates for the secondgroup so as to line up the names of Talkrooms included in the Talkroominformation D2.

For example, without limitation, the candidates for the second group aredisplayed on the display region 28A so that the candidates are lined upin order based on information relating to the respective groups of thecandidates for the second group. For example, as the informationrelating to the respective groups of the candidates for the secondgroup, the processor 21 uses the history information D4 stored in thestorage 24. For example, the processor 21 generates the list Tg on thebasis of the timing at which each Talkroom was used. For example, theprocessor 21 generates the list Tg so as to line up the names of theTalkrooms included in the Talkroom information D2 in descending orderfrom the Talkroom used most recently.

It should be noted that the order according to which the names of theTalkrooms are lined up in the list Tg is not limited to theaforementioned example. For example, the processor 21 may generate thelist Tg on the basis of the frequency at which each Talkroom is used.For example, the processor 21 may generate the list Tg so as to line upthe names of the Talkrooms included in the Talkroom information D2 indescending order from the Talkroom used most frequently. In some exampleembodiments, the order according to which the names of the Talkrooms arelined up in the list Tg may be set in advance by the user.

In the example of FIG. 8A, the user sets a destination from the list Tg.For example, without limitation, the user can set a destination bytapping the name of a Talkroom, as to which the second content is to betransmitted, in the list Tg displayed in the display region 28A. Theterminal 20 designates the Talkroom set by the user as the destination,and transmits the citation content. In this example, {Baseball Club} hasbeen set as the destination. The processor 21 of the terminal 20controls the communication I/F 22, and transmit the citation contentdestined for {Baseball Club} to the server 10 as the transmissiondestination.

For example, without limitation, in case where the information relatingto the first content Q1 is transmitted, the terminal 20 displays, on thedisplay region 28A, the first image including information indicatingthat the information relating to the first content Q1 has beentransmitted. In FIG. 8(B), the first Talkroom image T1 corresponds tothe first image, and reference sign Th corresponds to the informationindicating that the information relating to the first content Q1 hasbeen transmitted. In the example of FIG. 8(B), the information Th is atext stating {Cited}. For example, without limitation, the processor 21of the terminal 20 generates the first Talkroom image T1 including theinformation Th arranged at a desired (or alternatively, predetermined)positional relationship with respect to the first content Q1. Theprocessor 21 controls the display 28 so as to display the generatedfirst Talkroom image T1 on the display region 28A. In the presentexample embodiment, the program P2 stored in the storage 24 of theterminal 20 is an information processing program to be executed by aterminal of a user who is included in a first group including aplurality of users and in a second group including a plurality of users.The information processing program causes displaying a first imageincluding contents transmitted and received among terminalscorresponding to the first group on a display region of the terminal,and transmitting, (1) information relating to a first content among thecontents included in the first image displayed on the display region,and (2) a second content inputted at the terminal, via the communicationinterface 22 of the terminal 20. The second content is associated withthe first content and is included in a second image including contentstransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to the secondgroup. The program P2 causes the processor 21 (e.g., a CPU) of theterminal 20 to execute displaying a first image including contentstransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to the firstgroup on a display region of the terminal, and transmitting (1)information relating to a first content among the contents included inthe first image displayed on the display region and (2) a second contentinputted via the terminal, via a communication unit of the terminal.

In the present example embodiment described above, the terminal 20transmits (1) information relating to a first content among the contentsincluded in the first image displayed on the display region 28A and (2)a second content inputted at the terminal 20, via the communicationinterface 22 of the terminal 20. The second content is associated withthe first content, and is included in a second image including contentstransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to the secondgroup. Thus, users in the second group can acquire, in the second image,information relating to the first content (e.g., at least a portion ofthe first content). In this way, the information processing methodaccording to the present example embodiment facilitates sharing ofinformation between the first and second groups. Thus, the informationprocessing method according to the present example embodiment can reduceusers' workloads when the users gather information, thereby contributingto improvement in the users' convenience. Further, the informationprocessing method according to the present example embodimentcontributes to reduction in the load on the terminal 20 when a usergathers information using the terminal 20.

In the present example embodiment, the second image includes, forexample, without limitation, the second content, and at least a portionof the first content associated with the second content. In this case, auser viewing the second image can obtain at least a portion of the firstcontent, and the second content, and can thus easily grasp thecorrelation (or the context) between the first and second contents.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays candidates forthe second group, and transmits the second content to the respectiveterminals 20 of the plurality of users included in the second groupselected from the candidates for the second group. In this case, theuser can select a destination from the displayed second groupcandidates, thereby convenience is improved. Further, in the presentexample embodiment, for example, without limitation, the candidates forthe second group are associated with the identification information ofthe terminal 20 or of the user of the terminal 20, and are displayed onthe display region 28A so that the candidates are lined up in orderbased on information relating to the respective groups of the candidatesfor the second group. This increases the possibility that the user caneasily designate a destination, and thus the user's convenience isimproved.

For example, without limitation, in case where the information relatingto the first content is transmitted, the terminal 20 displays the firstimage including information indicating that the information relating tothe first content has been transmitted on the display region. Thisallows the user of the terminal 20 that has transmitted the informationrelating to the first content to verify that the terminal 20 hasoperated normally. Further, in the first group, users other than theuser of the terminal 20 that has transmitted the information relating tothe first content can recognize that the information relating to thefirst content has been transmitted.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays the secondTalkroom image on the display region 28A. In this information processingmethod, the second Talkroom image, which includes the second content, isdisplayed on the display region 28A of the terminal 20 that transmittedthe second content and the information relating to the first content.Thus, the user of this terminal 20 can verify the transmitted secondcontent by looking at the second Talkroom image. This improves theuser's convenience.

For example, without limitation, the second content includes at leastone or a combination of a text, an image, or audio inputted via theinput unit 23A of the terminal 20. A text can describe information(e.g., a comment or schedule) with a smaller amount of data than imagesand/or audio. Thus, in cases where the second content includes a text,the information processing method can, for example, reduce the amount ofcommunication of the terminal 20. Further, for example, withoutlimitation, images and/or audio have a larger amount of informationcompared to text, and can, for example, express information which isdifficult to describe with a text. Thus, in cases where the secondcontent includes an image and/or audio, the information processingmethod can convey the second content with greater expressiveness, andcan thus contribute to improving the users' convenience.

For example, without limitation, in case where transmission of thesecond content is permitted, the terminal 20 generates the secondTalkroom image on the basis of the first content and the second contentinputted via the input unit 23A of the terminal 20. In this informationprocessing method, the terminal 20 generates the second Talkroom image,and thus the second Talkroom image can be displayed more promptly on thedisplay region 28A compared to cases where, for example, the secondTalkroom image is acquired from outside the terminal 20 viacommunication etc. Thus, this information processing method can, forexample, improve the user's convenience and reduce the amount ofcommunication of the terminal 20.

Although the information processing method according to the presentexample embodiment includes processes of operations S2 to S4 in FIG. 4,at least a portion of the processes of operations S2 to S4 may not beincluded. For example, without limitation, the destination of theinformation relating to the first content may be set in advance. In sucha case, the terminal 20 may skip operation S4. In some exampleembodiments, at least a portion of the processes of operations S2 to S4may be executed by a device (e.g., a cloud computer) that is external tothe terminal 20.

At least a portion of operations S2 to S4 may be a portion of a seriesof processes for transmitting the information relating to the firstcontent and the second content. Further, the order of operations S2 toS4 may be changed. For example, the citation content may be generatedafter the destination is designated in operation S4. Further, in caseswhere a Talkroom other than the first Talkroom is designated as thedestination in operation S4, the terminal 20 may consider suchdesignation as a request for citing the content to another Talkroom.

In the content Q5 in the lower-right diagram of FIG. 2, the citationcontent displayed on the display region 28A is a set of contentsincluding at least a portion of the first content and the secondcontent. The format, however, is not limited thereto. For example, thecitation content may take a format in which a content including at leasta portion of the first content is arranged and displayed separately fromthe second content. For example, the terminal 20 may display a Talkroomimage in which at least a portion of the first content and the secondcontent are arranged independently as a single content. In this case, atleast a portion of the first content may or may not be arranged in thelongitudinal direction of the second Talkroom image T2 with respect tothe second content.

Second example Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a second example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. This example embodiment is, forexample, without limitation, a configuration in which citation of acontent satisfying a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) conditionis permitted. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmitsa citation content in cases where citation is permitted, and does nottransmit a citation content in cases where citation is not permitted.The desired (or alternatively, predetermined) condition is, for example,without limitation, that the user who has transmitted the content to becited is equivalent to the user of the terminal 20. For example, withoutlimitation, the user is allowed to transmit, via the terminal 20, acontent citing a content that has been inputted via the user's terminal20 among contents included in a first Talkroom, to a second Talkroom asthe destination. For example, in case where the user who has transmittedthe first content is equivalent to the user of the subject terminal, theprocessor 21 controls the communication I/F 22 to transmit information(for example, without limitation, citation content) including theinformation relating to the first content.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 9, the processes of operations S1 and S2 are the same as thosein FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted or simplified. Incases where the processor 21 of the terminal 20 determines that there isa citation request in operation S2 (operation S2: Yes), the processor 21of the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permit transmission ofthe information relating to the first content in operation S21. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where the user who has transmittedthe first content is equivalent to the user of the terminal 20, theprocessor 21 determines that transmission of the information relating tothe first content is permitted (operation S21: Yes).

For example, without limitation, the processor 21 executes the processof operation S21 by referencing the content information D3 illustratedas an example in FIG. 3(B). For example, in cases where the {Content ID}of the first content selected by the user is {tr01c01}, the processor 21references the {Transmission User ID} corresponding to {tr01c01} andacquires the user ID of the user who has transmitted the first content.Then, the processor 21 compares the user ID of the user who hastransmitted the first content with the user ID of the user of theterminal 20, and determines that transmission of the informationrelating to the first content is permitted in case where both user IDsmatch. For example, in case where a content whose {Content ID} is{tr01c01} is selected as the first content by the terminal 20A of userA, the processor 21 of the terminal 20A determines that transmission ofthe information relating to the first content is permitted, because the{Transmission User ID} corresponding to {tr01c01} matches the user ID ofthe user A of the terminal 20. In case where a content whose {ContentID} is {tr01c02} is selected as the first content by the terminal 20A ofuser A, the processor 21 of the terminal 20A determines thattransmission of the information relating to the first content is notpermitted, because the {Transmission User ID} corresponding to {tr01c02}does not match the user ID of the user A of the terminal 20.

For example, without limitation, in cases where it is determined thattransmission of the information relating to the first content ispermitted (operation S21: Yes), the processor 21 executes the processesof operations S3 to S5 and transmits the information relating to thefirst content and the second content. The processes of operations S3 toS5 are the same as those in FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon isomitted. For example, without limitation, in cases where it isdetermined that transmission of the information relating to the firstcontent is not permitted (operation S21: No), the processor 21 notifiesnon-permission of citation in operation S22. For example, the processor21 notifies non-permission of citation to the user by controlling thedisplay 28 to display an image including a message such as “Cannot cite”in the display region 28A.

The processor 21 may notify non-permission of citation by making thespeaker 29 output audio expressing non-permission of citation. In someexample embodiments, the processor 21 may notify non-permission ofcitation in a manner (for example, vibration of the terminal 20 and/orlight-up/blinking of a lamp) being different from audio or images. Insome example embodiments, the processor 21 may not execute the processof operation S22.

After executing the process of operation S5, or after executing theprocess of operation S22, the terminal 20 ends the series of processesrelating to the transmission of the information relating to the firstcontent.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmits, via thecommunication unit, the information relating to the first content incases where the user who has transmitted the first content is equivalentto the user of the terminal 20. Thus, this information processing methodcan reduce the possibility that the information relating to the firstcontent is unintentionally transmitted in cases where the user who hastransmitted the first content is different from the user of the terminal20.

For example, without limitation, the processor 21 of the terminal 20determines whether or not to permit transmission of the informationrelating to the first content. In this information processing method,since the terminal 20 transmitting the second content determines whetheror not to permit transmission of the information relating to the firstcontent, the determination result can be obtained promptly. Thus, theterminal 20 can transmit the information relating to the first contentand the second content more promptly compared, for example, withoutlimitation, to cases where the determination is made outside theterminal 20, and thus, the user's convenience is improved.

Further, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 determineswhether or not to permit citation in operation S21 before executing theprocesses of operations S3 and S4. Thus, in cases where the processor 21determines that citation is not permitted (operation S21: No), theterminal 20 can skip the processes of operations S3 and S4, and therebythe load required for these processes can be reduced. It should be notedthat the process of operation S21 only needs to be executed before theprocess of operation S5, and it may be executed after operation S3 orafter the process of operation S4.

The terminal 20 may transmit the information relating to the firstcontent on the basis of a condition different from the condition thatthe user who has transmitted the first content is equivalent to the userof the terminal 20. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 maydetermine whether or not to permit transmission of the informationrelating to the first content on the basis of the type and/or dataamount of the first content. For example, the terminal 20 may transmitthe information relating to the first content in cases where the firstcontent is a text, and may not transmit the information relating to thefirst content in cases where the first content is not a text. Thecondition according to which the terminal 20 transmits the informationrelating to the first content is not limited to the aforementionedexamples, and will also be described in the following embodiments.

In cases where transmission of the information relating to the firstcontent to the second Talkroom as the destination is not permitted, theterminal 20 may simply transmit the second content, without transmittingthe information relating to the first content. In some exampleembodiments, the terminal 20 may not determine whether or not to permittransmission of the information relating to the first content to thesecond Talkroom as the destination. For example, without limitation,when the server 10 receives the information relating to the firstcontent and the second content that have been transmitted from theterminal 20, the server 10 may determine whether or not to transmit,from the server 10, at least a portion of the received information tothe terminals 20 of users included in the second group. In cases whereit is determined not to transmit the information relating to the firstcontent, which has been transmitted by the terminal 20, to the terminals20 of users included in the second group, the server 10 may, forexample, without limitation, transmit the second content withouttransmitting the information relating to the first content, or may nottransmit the second content.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 may display a Talkroomimage wherein a content for which citation is permitted is distinguishedfrom a content for which citation is not permitted. In the followingdescription, contents for which citation is permitted are referred to asfirst content candidates, as appropriate.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating processes relating to thedisplaying of first content candidates. In the first Talkroom image T1of FIG. 10A, contents Q1 and Q3 are contents inputted by the user andtransmitted by the terminal 20 thereof. The user who has transmitted thecontents Q1 and Q3 is equivalent to the user of the terminal 20, andthese contents are thus permitted for citation, and are therefore firstcontent candidates. The content Q2 is a content transmitted from anobject terminal, and is thus a content for which citation is notpermitted because the user who has transmitted the content is differentfrom the user of the terminal 20. The contents Q1 and Q3, which arefirst content candidates, are arranged according to a first positionalrelationship with respect to the first Talkroom image T1. Reference signCL indicates the center line of the first Talkroom image T1. Theaforementioned first positional relationship refers to a positionalrelationship toward one side with respect to the center line CL. Forexample, the contents Q1 and Q3 are arranged at positions toward theright side of the center line CL of the first Talkroom image T1. On theother hand, the content Q2—which is a content different from contentsthat are first content candidates—is arranged at a position toward theopposite side, with respect to the center line CL, from the contentswhich are first content candidates. It should be noted that thepositional relationship between contents that are first contentcandidates and a content other than the contents that are first contentcandidates is not limited to the aforementioned example, and may be setdiscretionarily so that they can be distinguished from one another withthe human eyes.

In the first Talkroom image T1 of FIG. 10B, contents in the first imagethat are first content candidates are displayed on the display region28A in a manner different from a content other than the contents thatare first content candidates. In FIG. 10B, contents in the first imagethat are first content candidates are contents Q1 and Q3, and a contentother than the contents that are first content candidates is content Q2.For example, without limitation, each content is displayed as an itemwherein the content body is placed within a frame (for example, a framehaving a shape of a speech balloon). The contents that are first contentcandidates and the content other than the contents that are firstcontent candidates are displayed in a manner such that the color and/orbrightness of their frames are/is different between the two. Forexample, without limitation, the contents Q1 and Q3 have a first color(e.g., green) within their frames, whereas the content Q2 has a secondcolor (e.g., white) different from the first color within its frame.

The contents that are first content candidates may differ from thecontent other than the contents that are first content candidates interms of, for example, brightness within the frame, the color of theframe line, the thickness of the frame line, and/or the type of theframe line (e.g., solid line, dotted line). The difference in a displayform between contents that are first content candidates and a contentother than the contents that are first content candidates is not limitedto the aforementioned examples, and may be set discretionarily so thatthey can be distinguished from one another with the human eyes.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B, the terminal 20 displays contents that are firstcontent candidates and a content other than the contents that are firstcontent candidates in a manner that they are distinguished from oneanother. In this case, the user can easily distinguish contents fromwhich transmission of the information relating to the first content ispermitted from a content for which transmission of the informationrelating to the first content is not permitted, and thus, the user'sconvenience is improved. {Third Example Embodiment}

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a third example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is, forexample, without limitation, a configuration wherein whether or notcitation is permitted is determined before the second content isinputted. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 generates acitation content in cases where citation is permitted, and does notgenerate a citation content in cases where citation is not permitted.FIG. 12A is a diagram illustrating a process relating to displaying incases where citation is permitted. FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating aprocess relating to displaying in cases where citation is not permitted.For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays the {Cite}icon, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, in cases where citation is permitted,and does not display the {Cite} icon, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, incases where citation is not permitted.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing exampleembodiments are accompanied by the same reference signs and explanationthereon is omitted or simplified, as appropriate.

After displaying the first Talkroom image in operation S1, the terminal20 determines whether or not a content has been selected in operationS24. For example, without limitation, in case where it is detected thatthe content Q1 in the first Talkroom image T1 displayed on the displayregion 28A has been long-pressed as illustrated in the upper diagram ofFIG. 5, the processor 21 of the terminal 20 determines that the contentQ1 has been selected. In cases where it is determined that a content hasbeen selected (operation S24: Yes), the processor 21 determines whetheror not to permit citation in operation S25. In cases where the processor21 determines that citation is permitted for the content determined asbeing selected in operation S24 (operation S25: Yes), the processor 21displays a command window including citation in operation S26. In caseswhere the processor 21 determines that citation is not permitted for thecontent determined as being selected in operation S24 (operation S25:No), the processor 21 displays a command window that does not includecitation in operation S27.

In cases where citation is permitted, the processor 21 generates a firstTalkroom image T1 a including a command window Tc1 including a command(for example, {Cite} in the figure) for executing processes relating tocitation, as illustrated in FIG. 12A. The processor 21 controls thedisplay 28 to display the first Talkroom image T1 a on the displayregion 28A. In FIG. 12A, {Copy}, {Delete}, {Cite}, and {Save} are iconsof commands for executing desired (or alternatively, predetermined)processes in relation to the selected content (the content Q1 in thisexample). For example, by tapping one of the icons {Copy}, {Delete},{Cite}, and {Save}, the user can make the terminal 20 execute processesassigned to the tapped icon.

In cases where citation is not permitted, the processor 21 generates afirst Talkroom image T1 b including a command window Tc2 that does notinclude a command for executing processes relating to citation, asillustrated in FIG. 12B. In FIG. 12B, the {Cite} icon is disabled. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where the {Cite} icon is tapped,the terminal 20 does not accept input of the {Cite} command. {Cite} doesnot function as an icon for inputting a command, but is displayed at alower contrast compared to the other commands such as {Copy}, therebyvisually showing that execution of the command is not possible. Theterminal 20 may not display {Cite}. By tapping one of the active icons{Copy}, {Delete}, and {Save}, the user can make the terminal 20 executeprocesses assigned to the tapped icon.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 11, after displaying the commandwindow Tc1 including citation in operation S26, the terminal 20determines whether or not there is a request for citation in operationS28. For example, without limitation, in case where it is detected thatthe {Cite} icon has been tapped as illustrated in FIG. 12A, theprocessor 21 determines that there is a request for citation. In casewhere the processor 21 determines that there is a citation request(operation S28: Yes), the terminal 20 transmits the information relatingto the first content and the second content by executing the processesof operations S3 to S5. The processes of operations S3 to S5 are thesame as those in FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted.

For example, without limitation, in cases where it is detected that asection other than the {Cite} icon illustrated in FIG. 12A has beentapped, the processor 21 determines that there is no citation request(operation S28: No). The section other than the {Cite} icon may be, forexample, without limitation, an icon other than the {Cite} icon, or asection outside the command window Tc1 in the display region 28A. Incases where it is determined that there is no citation request(operation S28: No) or after the process of operation S27, the processor21 determines whether or not a command has been selected. In cases whereit is detected that an icon indicating an available command has beentapped in the command window Tc1 illustrated in FIG. 12A or the commandwindow Tc2 illustrated in FIG. 12(B), the processor 21 determines that acommand has been selected (operation S29: Yes). In cases where theprocessor 21 has determined that a command has been selected (operationS29: Yes), the terminal 20 executes the selected command in operationS30. The terminal 20 ends the series of processes relating to thetransmission of the second content and the information relating to thefirst content in any of the following cases, for example, in cases wherethe processor 21 has determined that no content has been selected inoperation S24 (operation S24: No), after the process of operation S5, incases where the processor 21 has determined that no command has beenselected in operation S29 (operation S29: No), or after the process ofoperation S30.

For example, without limitation, in cases where information relating toa content transmitted/received among terminals corresponding to a firstgroup is not permitted to be transmitted as a content to betransmitted/received among terminals corresponding to a second groupdifferent from the first group, the aforementioned terminal 20 does notaccept input of a command for executing at least a portion of processesfor transmitting the information relating to that content. In this case,the user is not inconvenienced by, for example, without limitation,being notified that transmission of the information relating to thefirst content is not permitted after inputting the second content, andthus, the user's convenience is improved. Further, the terminal 20 canskip processes relating to accepting input of a second content inrelation to information relating to a content for which transmission isnot permitted, and thus, processing loads can be reduced.

Fourth Example Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a fourth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. In the present example embodiment,a condition for permitting citation is different from that in theforegoing embodiments. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20determines whether or not to permit citation on the basis of usersincluded in a second group. For example, without limitation, theterminal 20 determines whether or not to permit citation on the basis ofthe destination of a second content after the destination of the secondcontent is designated. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20permits citation in cases where there is an overlapping user, other thanthe user of the subject terminal, between users included in a firstgroup and users included in a second group. For example, withoutlimitation, the information relating to the first content is transmittedvia the communication unit in cases where the first group includes atleast one user, different from the user of the terminal 20, from amongthe plurality of users included in the second group.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 13, the processes of operations S1 and S2 are the same as thosein FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted or simplified. Incases where the processor 21 determines that there is a citation requestin operation S2 (operation S2: Yes), the terminal 20 designates thedestination for transmitting the second content and the informationrelating to the first content in operation S31. For example, withoutlimitation, the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, a listof names of Talkrooms which are destination candidates, and designates,as the destination, the Talkroom selected by the user from the list.

In operation S32, the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permitcitation. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 of theterminal 20 executes the process of operation S32 on the basis of thedestination designated in operation S31. For example, the processor 21references the Talkroom information D2 illustrated in FIG. 3(A), andacquires the user IDs of users included in the group corresponding tothe Talkroom designated as the destination in operation S31. Then, theprocessor 21 compares the user IDs of the users included in the firstgroup corresponding to the first Talkroom against the user IDs of theusers included in the group corresponding to the designated Talkroom. Inthis way, the processor 21 determines whether or not the first groupincludes at least one user, different from the user of the subjectterminal, from among the plurality of users included in the secondgroup. In cases where it is determined that the first group includes N1or more users, different from the user of the subject terminal, fromamong the plurality of users included in the second group, the processor21 determines to permit transmission of the information relating to thefirst content (operation S32: Yes). The aforementioned N1 is an integerof 1 or greater, and is, for example, without limitation, a value thatis set in advance. In cases where the processor 21 determines to permittransmission of the information relating to the first content (operationS32: Yes), the terminal 20 executes the processes of operations S3 andS5, and transmits the information relating to the first content and thesecond content. The processes of operations S3 and S5 are the same asthose in FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted.

In cases where the processor 21 determines not to permit transmission ofthe information relating to the first content (operation S32: No), theterminal 20 notifies non-permission of citation in operation S33. Theprocess of operation S33 is the same as the process of operation S22 inFIG. 9. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted. After the process ofoperation S33, the processor 21 determines whether or not to change thedestination in operation S34. For example, without limitation, theterminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, a dialog box stating,for example, “Change the destination?”, to accept user's input. In caseswhere user's input to change the destination is detected, the processor21 determines to change the destination (operation S34: Yes). In caseswhere the processor 21 determines to change the destination (operationS34: Yes), the terminal 20 returns to the process of operation S31, andrepeats the subsequent processes. In cases where the processor 21determines not to change the destination (operation S34: No), theterminal 20 ends the series of processes relating to the transmission ofthe second content and the information relating to the first content.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned terminal 20transmits the information relating to the first content in cases wherethe first group includes at least one user, different from the user ofthe terminal 20, from among the plurality of users included in thesecond group. Stated differently, the terminal 20 transmits theinformation relating to the first content in cases where there is anoverlapping user, other than the user of the subject terminal, betweenthe first group and the second group. Thus, the terminal 20 can, forexample, without limitation, convey the information relating to thefirst content to terminals 20 in the second group and relating to thefirst group. It is thus possible, for example, to share informationwhile inhibiting unintended dissemination of information.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 determines whether ornot to permit transmission of the information relating to the firstcontent in operation S32 before the process of accepting input of thesecond content is executed in operation S3. In this case, notifying theuser that citation is not permitted prevents the user from theinefficiency that, for example, the user is notified accordingly afterinputting the second content, and thus, the user's convenience isimproved. Further, the terminal 20 can skip processes relating toaccepting input of a second content in cases where transmission of theinformation relating to the first content is not permitted, and thus,processing loads can be reduced.

Fifth Example Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a fifth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. In this example embodiment, thetiming for determining whether or not citation is permitted is differentfrom that in the foregoing embodiments. For example, without limitation,the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permit citation after acitation content is generated.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 14, the processes of operations S1 and S2 are the same as thosein FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted or simplified. Incases where the processor 21 determines that there is a citation requestin operation S2 (operation S2: Yes), the terminal 20 generates acitation content in operation S41. Then, in operation S42, the terminal20 sets the destination of the citation content. The processes ofoperations S41 and S42 are the same as the processes of operations S3and S4 in FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted. After theprocess of operation S42, the processor 21 determines whether or not topermit citation. The process of operation S43 is the same as the processof operation S32 in FIG. 13. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted.

In cases where the processor 21 determines to permit citation (operationS43: Yes), the terminal 20 transmits the second content and theinformation relating to the first content in operation S5. In caseswhere the processor 21 determines not to permit citation (operation S43:No), the terminal 20 notifies non-permission of citation in operationS44, and determines whether or not to change the destination inoperation S45. The processes of operations S44 and S45 are the same asthe processes of operations S33 and S34 in FIG. 13; therefore,explanation thereon is omitted.

In cases where the processor 21 determines not to change the destination(operation S45: No), the terminal 20 determines whether or not to storethe citation content in operation S46. For example, without limitation,the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, a dialog boxstating, for example, “Store?”, to accept the user's input. In caseswhere the user's input to store the citation content is detected, theprocessor 21 determines to store the citation content (operation S46:Yes). In cases where the processor 21 determines to store the citationcontent (operation S46: Yes), in operation S47, the terminal 20 stores,in a storage, at least a portion of the citation content generated inoperation S41. For example, without limitation, the storage is thestorage 24 of the terminal 20. However, it may be a storage other thanthe storage 24, or a storage being external to the terminal 20. Forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 may display, in accordancewith a request from the user, the stored citation content on the displayregion 28A. The terminal 20 ends the series of processes in cases wherethe processor 21 has determined not to store the citation content(operation S46: No), or after the process of operation S47.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned terminal 20determines whether or not to permit citation after the citation contentis generated, and determines whether or not to change the destination incases where citation is not permitted. In this case, citation may bepermitted by changing the destination, thus it is possible to suppresscausing inconvenience to the user due to wasted effort to input thesecond content, and thereby the user's convenience is improved. Further,robustness of the terminal 20 is improved, since it is possible tosuppress causing inconvenience such as failing to transmit theinformation relating to the first content as a result of, for example,incorrectly inputting the destination.

or not to permit citation after the citation content is generated, anddetermines whether or not to store the citation content in cases wherecitation is not permitted. In this case, the user can, for example, viewor reuse the stored citation content, and thus, the user's convenienceis improved.

It should be noted that the terminal 20 may not execute the process ofoperation S45. Further, the terminal 20 may not execute the process ofoperation S46. In cases where the processor 21 determines not to permitcitation (operation S43: No), the citation content may be storedautomatically, or the citation content may not be stored.

Sixth Example Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a sixth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment is,for example, without limitation, a configuration wherein whether or notto permit citation is determined according to a plurality of conditions.For example, without limitation, at the stage where a content to becited is specified, the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permitcitation on the basis of the user who has transmitted the specifiedcontent. Further, for example, without limitation, at the stage wherethe destination is specified, the terminal 20 determines whether or notto permit citation on the basis of the specified destination. Then, forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmits the citationcontent in cases where the subject terminal determines to permitcitation. Further, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20transmits a request for citation permission in cases where the subjectterminal determines not to permit citation, and then transmits thecitation content on the basis of a response to the request for citationpermission.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 15, the processes of operations S1 and S2 are the same as thosein FIG. 4. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted or simplified. Incase where the processor 21 determines that there is a citation request(operation S2: Yes), the processor 21 determines whether or not topermit citation in operation S51. The process of operation S51 is thesame as operation S21 in FIG. 9. Thus, in cases where the user of theterminal that transmitted the first content is equivalent to the user ofthe subject terminal, the processor 21 determines to permit citation(operation S51: Yes), and in cases of determining that citation ispermitted, the processor 21 sets a citation permission flag in operationS52. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 generates a flagindicating that citation is permitted.

In cases where the processor 21 determines not to permit citation(operation S51: No), or after the process of operation S52, the terminal20 designates the destination in operation S4. After the process ofoperation S4, the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permitcitation in operation S53. For example, without limitation, the processof operation S53 is the same as the process of operation S32 in FIG. 13.Thus, the processor 21 determines to permit citation in cases where thefirst group includes at least one user, different from the user of thesubject terminal, from among the plurality of users included in thesecond group corresponding to the designated Talkroom, and in cases ofdetermining to permit citation (operation S53: Yes), the processor 21sets a citation permission flag in operation S54.

In cases of determining not to permit citation (operation S53: No), orafter the process of operation S54, the processor 21 generates citationcontent in operation S3. After the process of operation S3, theprocessor 21 determines whether or not there is a citation permissionflag in operation S55. In cases where a citation permission flag is setin the processing of operation S52 and/or operation S54, the processor21 determines that there is a citation permission flag (operation S55:Yes). In cases where it is determined that there is no citationpermission flag (operation S55: No), the processor 21 determines whetheror not to transmit a request for citation permission in operation S56.For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays, on thedisplay region 28A, a dialog box stating, for example, “Send a requestfor citation permission?”, to accept user's input. In cases where user'sinput to transmit a request for citation permission is detected, theprocessor 21 determines to transmit a request for citation permission(operation S56: Yes).

In cases where the processor 21 determines to transmit a request forcitation permission (operation S56: Yes), the terminal 20 transmits arequest for citation permission in operation S57. For example, withoutlimitation, the terminal 20 transmits information indicating a requestfor citation permission to a terminal 20 of a user permittingtransmission of the information relating to the first content. Forexample, without limitation, the user permitting transmission of theinformation relating to the first content may be the user who hastransmitted the first content.

It should be noted that the transmission destination of the request forcitation permission is not limited to the aforementioned example. Forexample, the terminal(s) 20 may be terminals 20 of one or more usersincluded in the first group, or may be a terminal of a user that is setin advance (for example, without limitation, an administrator, or a userthat is set in advance from among users included in each group). Forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 that received the requestfor citation permission displays, on the display region 28A, a dialogbox stating, for example, “Permit citation?”, to accept user's input. Incases where user's input to permit citation is detected, the processor21 transmits permission for citation. It should be noted that, forexample, without limitation, the server 10, in cases of receiving therequest for citation permission transmitted from the terminal 20, maydetermine whether or not to permit citation and transmit permission forcitation on the basis of the determination result.

In operation S58, the processor 21 determines whether or not permissionfor citation has been received. For example, without limitation, theprocessor 21 determines whether or not information indicating permissionfor citation has been received in response to the request for citationpermission transmitted in operation S57. In cases where the processor 21determines that there is a citation permission flag in operation S55(operation S55: Yes), or in cases where the processor 21 determines thatpermission for citation has been received in operation S58 (operationS58: Yes), the terminal 20 transmits the information relating to thefirst content and the second content in operation S5.

Further, the terminal 20 ends the series of processes in any one of thefollowing cases: in cases where the processor 21 determines that thereis no citation request in operation S2 (operation S2: No), for example,in cases where the processor 21 determines not to transmit a request forcitation permission in operation S56 (operation S56: No), or in caseswhere the processor 21 determines that no permission for citation hasbeen received in operation S58 (operation S58: No).

It should be noted that, in cases where the destination is set inoperation S4 but the information relating to the first content is not tobe transmitted, the terminal 20 may determine whether or not to changethe destination, as in the process of operation S45 in FIG. 14. Further,in cases where the user inputs a second content in operation S3 but theinformation relating to the first content is not to be transmitted, theterminal 20 may determine whether or not to store the informationrelating to the first content and/or the second content, as in theprocess of operation S46 in FIG. 14, may store the information withoutdetermining whether or not to store it, or may not store the informationwithout determining whether or not to store it.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned terminal 20transmits the information relating to the first content and the secondcontent in accordance with a plurality of conditions. According to thisinformation processing method, for example, without limitation, it ispossible to minutely set conditions for permitting transmission of theinformation relating to the first content, and thus, it is possible toshare information among a plurality of users while preventing unintendedleakage of information. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20permits citation in cases where the user of the terminal 20 thattransmitted the first content is equivalent to the user of the subjectterminal and permits citation in cases where the first group includesusers, different from the user of the subject terminal, from among theusers included in the second group. In this case, users who are includedin both the first group and the second group can transmit a citationcontent via their terminals 20, and thus the users' convenience isimproved.

Further, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmits theinformation relating to the first content and the second content inaccordance with a response to a request for citation permission.According to this information processing method, for example, withoutlimitation, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the terminal20, because the terminal 20 does not have to determine whether or not topermit citation. Further, according to this information processingmethod, for example, without limitation, even when the terminal 20 doesnot have enough information necessary for determining whether or not topermit citation, the terminal 20 can transmit the information relatingto the first content and the second content in accordance with aresponse to a request for citation permission. Thus, information can beshared between the first group and the second group.

Further, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmits theinformation relating to the first content and the second content inaccordance with a plurality of conditions, wherein the plurality ofconditions include a condition that permission for citation has beenreceived. With this information processing method, it is possible toprevent, for example, without limitation, unauthorized transmission ofthe information relating to the first content from the terminal 20 incases where the determination on whether or not to permit citation ismade outside the terminal 20. Thus, the information processing methodcan share information among a plurality of users while preventingunintended leakage of information.

It should be noted that the number of conditions according to which theterminal 20 transmits the information relating to the first content andthe second content may be one, or more. For example, without limitation,there may be a single condition according to which the terminal 20transmits the information relating to the first content and the secondcontent, and the condition may be that permission for citation has beenreceived. In some example embodiments, for example, without limitation,the terminal 20 may transmit the information relating to the firstcontent and the second content according to a plurality of conditions,and the plurality of conditions may not include a condition thatpermission for citation has been received. The plurality of conditionsmay or may not include at least one of the conditions described in theforegoing embodiments. The plurality of conditions may includeconditions other than the conditions described in the foregoingembodiments.

Seventh Example Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a seventh example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment is,for example, without limitation, a mode wherein information relating toa Talkroom is displayed on the display region 28A in cases where acitation content is transmitted. For example, without limitation, incases where a citation content is transmitted, the terminal 20 displaysa second Talkroom image including, for example, an advertisementrelating to a first Talkroom. For example, without limitation, in caseswhere a citation content is transmitted, the terminal 20 displays afirst Talkroom image including, for example, an advertisement relatingto a second Talkroom.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

The reference sign TL in the upper-left diagram of FIG. 16 indicates animage illustrating a list of Talkrooms. In the image TL, {Music} and{Rock}, for example, are names of Talkrooms. For example, withoutlimitation, the {Music} Talkroom and the {Rock} Talkroom are Talkroomswith set themes. For example, the theme of the Talkroom named {Music} ismusic, and this Talkroom is intended for posting and viewing informationrelating to music in general. The theme of the Talkroom named {Rock} isrock music, and this Talkroom is intended for posting and viewinginformation relating to rock in general. The theme of each Talkroom canbe set discretionarily, with examples including food, fashion, travel,movies, work, love, etc. For example, without limitation, a user cancreate a Talkroom by setting a discretionary theme.

In the present example embodiment, Talkrooms provided by the messagingservice include public Talkrooms and private Talkrooms. For example,without limitation, public Talkrooms are Talkrooms in which any userusing the messaging service can participate. For example, withoutlimitation, the messaging service provides users with a list of publicTalkrooms, and each user can register themselves into a groupcorresponding to the Talkroom selected from the list. For example,without limitation, the messaging service provides a system via which auser can search for public Talkrooms, and by conducting keyword searchetc., the user can find a Talkroom having a theme they is interested in.

For example, without limitation, a user can set the type of Talkroom to“public” at the time of creating a Talkroom, and can thereby create apublic Talkroom. For example, without limitation, a public Talkroom maybe created by the messaging service provider or an outsourcer thereof.For example, an event holder may outsource the creation of a Talkroom tothe provider of the messaging service, and the messaging serviceprovider may create a public Talkroom under the theme of the event.

For example, without limitation, in cases where a user of a terminal 20registers themselves as a user of a group corresponding to a publicTalkroom, the terminal 20 can display an image of the Talkroom (forexample, without limitation, the user of the terminal 20 can view theTalkroom image). For example, without limitation, in cases where a userof a terminal 20 registers themselves as a user of a group correspondingto a public Talkroom, the terminal 20 can transmit a content to theTalkroom as the destination (for example, without limitation, the userof the terminal 20 can post the content).

It should be noted that, even in cases where a user of a terminal 20 isnot registered as a user of a group corresponding to a public Talkroom,the terminal 20 may be allowed to display an image of the Talkroom. Forexample, a user may be allowed to view the Talkroom without registeringthemselves into the group corresponding to the Talkroom, and may berequired to register into the group in cases of making a post in theTalkroom. The user may determine whether or not to register themselvesinto the group after viewing the Talkroom. In some example embodiments,at the time the terminal 20 displays an image of a public Talkroom, theuser of the terminal 20 may be registered into the group correspondingto that Talkroom.

It should be noted that, even in cases where a user of a terminal 20 isnot registered as a user of a group corresponding to a public Talkroom,the terminal 20 may, for example, without limitation, be allowed totransmit a content to the Talkroom as the destination. For example, theuser of the terminal 20 may be registered into the group correspondingto the Talkroom when the content is transmitted from the terminal 20 tothe public Talkroom as the destination.

The aforementioned private Talkroom is, for example, without limitation,a Talkroom wherein a terminal 20 of a user who is not included in thegroup corresponding to the Talkroom is restricted from displaying animage of the Talkroom and transmitting contents to the Talkroom as thedestination. A user included in the group corresponding to a privateTalkroom can add other users to the group. In the image TL of the listof Talkrooms in the upper-left diagram of FIG. 16, {User B} is the nameof a Talkroom, and herein, the Talkroom named {User B} is private.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays, on thedisplay region 28A, an image TL of a list of Talkrooms associated withthe subject terminal or the user thereof. For example, withoutlimitation, when {Music} in the image TL is tapped as illustrated in theupper-left diagram of FIG. 16, the terminal 20 displays, on the displayregion 28A, an image T6 of a Talkroom whose name Ta is {Music}, asillustrated in the upper-right diagram. In this example, the groupcorresponding to the {Music} Talkroom is considered the first group, andthe Talkroom image T6 is considered the first image. In this example,the group corresponding to the {Rock} Talkroom is considered the secondgroup, and an image T7 of the {Rock} Talkroom as illustrated in thelower-left diagram is considered the second image.

The terminal 20 transmits, by the communication unit (for example,without limitation, the communication I/F 22) of the terminal 20,information relating to a first content among the contents included inthe first image displayed on the display region 28A and a second contentinputted via the terminal 20. In the Talkroom image T6 in theupper-right diagram, reference signs Q11 to Q13 indicate contentstransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to the firstgroup. In this example, content Q11 is considered as the first content.For example, without limitation, on the basis of input by the user withrespect to the first content Q11 displayed on the display region 28A,the terminal 20 transmits the information relating to the first contentQ11 and a second content.

In the Talkroom image T7 illustrated in the lower-left diagram,reference signs Q14 and Q15 indicate contents transmitted and receivedamong terminals corresponding to the second group. The reference signQ16 indicates a citation content that cites the first content Q11, andthe content Q14 is a second content inputted by user A via the terminal20. For example, without limitation, in cases where the informationrelating to the first content Q11 and the second content Q14 aretransmitted, the terminal 20 displays a first image includinginformation relating to the second group in which the second content Q14is transmitted and received.

As illustrated in the lower-right diagram, after transmitting theinformation relating to the first content Q11, the terminal 20 displays,on the display region 28A, the Talkroom image T6 corresponding to thefirst group. In the Talkroom image T6, the reference sign Q18 indicatesa content including information relating to the second group. In thisexample, the Talkroom corresponding to the second group is the Talkroomnamed {Rock}. For example, without limitation, the content Q18 includes,as information relating to the {Rock} Talkroom, information in line withthe theme of the {Rock} Talkroom. For example, without limitation, thecontent Q18 is a content generated and transmitted by the server 10. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where the server 10 receives theinformation relating to the first content Q11 and the second content Q14transmitted from the terminal 20, the server 10 first transmits theinformation relating to the first content Q11 and the second content Q14to terminals 20 of users included in the second group, and thentransmits information relating to the second group to terminals 20 ofusers included in the first group. For example, without limitation, theprocessor 11 of the server 10 generates a content including theinformation relating to the second group on the basis of the Talkroominformation D8 stored in the storage 13.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating Talkroom information. The Talkroominformation D8 includes, for example, without limitation, the items{Type} and {Theme}. {Type} is information indicating whether theTalkroom is public or private. For example, without limitation, the{Type} is associated with {Talkroom ID}. For example, the Talkroom whose{Talkroom ID} is {tr01} is a Talkroom whose {Name}, as illustrated inFIG. 2 etc., is {User B}, and the {Type} thereof is {Private}. TheTalkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr11} is a Talkroom whose name is{Music} (see the upper-right diagram of FIG. 16), and the type thereofis {Public}. The Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr12} is a Talkroomwhose name is {Rock} (see the lower-left diagram of FIG. 16), and thetype thereof is {Public}.

For example, without limitation, {Theme} is information relating to theTalkroom. For example, without limitation, the {Theme} is associatedwith {Talkroom ID}. For example, the Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is{tr11} has the {Theme} as {Music}. The Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is{tr12} has the {Theme} as {Rock}. For example, without limitation,{Music} and {Rock} may be keywords indicating the theme of each Talkroomand/or may be information, such as an advertisement, registered by themessaging service provider, etc. The {Theme} of the Talkroom whose{Talkroom ID} is {tr01} is {NULL}. {NULL} is information indicating thatthere is no data.

After the information relating to the first content Q11 and the secondcontent Q14 is transmitted to the terminals 20 of users who are includedin the second group, the server 10 acquires information relating to thesecond group from, for example, without limitation, the Talkroominformation D8. For example, in FIGS. 16 and 17, the processor 11 of theserver 10 acquires, as the information relating to the second group,information included in {Rock}, which is the {Theme} corresponding tothe Talkroom whose {Talkroom ID} is {tr12}. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the information included in {Rock} is akeyword indicating the theme of the Talkroom, the server 10 acquires,for example, information that is permitted to be made public asinformation relating to the keyword via a network. On the basis of theacquired information, the server 10 generates a content Q18 with theprocessor 11, and transmits the content Q18 to the terminals 20 of userswho are included in the first group. In some example embodiments, theinformation included in {Rock} may be, for example, an advertisement inline with the theme of the Talkroom. In this case, the server 10transmits information, such as an advertisement, registered in advance,to the terminals 20 of users who are included in the first group. Incases where the {Theme} of the Talkroom corresponding to the secondgroup is {NULL}, for example, without limitation, the server 10 does nottransmit information relating to the Talkroom to the terminals 20 ofusers who are included in the first group.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned terminal 20displays, on the display region 28A, a first image including informationrelating to the second group in cases where information relating to thefirst content is transmitted. In this case, for example, withoutlimitation, the topic being discussed in the first group may be relatedto the second group, and thus, the terminal 20 can provide, to usersincluded in the first group, information relating to the second group asinformation relating to the topic being discussed in the first group.Thus, it is possible for the users included in the first group, forexample, to reduce the time and trouble to search the Internet forinformation derived from the information relating to the first content,and thus, the users' convenience is improved. Further, it is possiblefor the terminals 20 for example, to reduce processes required for theusers to search the Internet for information derived from theinformation relating to the first content.

In cases where each Talkroom is set to either public or private, theterminal 20 may, for example, without limitation, transmit theinformation relating to the first content and the second content on thebasis of whether the Talkroom is public or private. For example, withoutlimitation, in the process of operation S21 in FIG. 9, the terminal 20may determine to transmit the information relating to the first contentand the second content (operation S21: Yes) in cases where the {Type} ofthe Talkroom corresponding to the first group is {Public}. This processmay or may not be a process executed separately from the process ofoperation S21 in FIG. 9.

It should be noted that each Talkroom may not be set to either public orprivate. For example, without limitation, all the Talkrooms may beprivate, or all the Talkrooms may be public. In cases where all theTalkrooms are public, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20may not determine whether or not to permit transmission of theinformation relating to the first content and the second content.

The aforementioned terminal 20 displays, for example, withoutlimitation, a first image including information relating to the secondgroup in FIG. 16 on the display region 28A in cases where informationrelating to the first content and the second content are transmitted,but instead, the terminal 20 may display, on the display region 28A, asecond image including information relating to the first group. In someexample embodiments, in cases where information relating to the firstcontent and the second content are transmitted, for example, withoutlimitation, the terminal 20 may display, on the display region 28A, afirst image including information relating to the second group, and maydisplay, on the display region 28A, a second image including informationrelating to the first group. In FIG. 16, for example, withoutlimitation, the aforementioned terminal 20 displays, on the displayregion 28A, information relating to a group as a content, but instead,the information may be displayed in a form (for example, withoutlimitation, a popup or a banner) different from a content.

Eighth Example Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to an eighth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment is,for example, without limitation, a configuration wherein, on the basisof input to a second Talkroom image T2 as illustrated in the lower-leftdiagram, a third image including at least a portion of the first contentis displayed on the display region 28A. In FIG. 18, the terminal 20Adisplaying the third image is equivalent to the terminal 20 thattransmitted the second content. The terminal 20 displaying the thirdimage may be a terminal different from the terminal 20 that transmittedthe second content. This configuration will be described as a ninthembodiment. For example, without limitation, the third image is thefirst Talkroom image T1 illustrated in the lower-right diagram. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where there is a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T2, theterminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, the first Talkroomimage T1 illustrated in the lower-right diagram, without delivering astate of displaying the Talkroom list image TL illustrated in theupper-left diagram.

For example, without limitation, in cases where a Talkroom is selectedon the basis of the Talkroom list image TL, the terminal 20 displays aTalkroom image including contents transmitted most recently among thecontents included in the selected Talkroom. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the amount of contents included in theTalkroom exceeds an amount that can be displayed on the display region28A at once, the Talkroom image does not include the exceeding amount ofcontents. For example, without limitation, a user can view, by scrollingthe display, contents that are included in the Talkroom but are notincluded in the Talkroom image.

For example, without limitation, in cases of displaying the firstTalkroom image T1 on the basis of input to the second Talkroom image T2,the terminal 20A generates the first Talkroom image T1 so as to includeat least a portion of the first content. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the amount of contents included in the firstTalkroom exceeds an amount that can be displayed on the display region28A at once, the terminal generates the first Talkroom image T1 byextracting, from the contents included in the first Talkroom, an amountof contents that can be displayed on the display region 28A at once in amanner so as to include at least a portion of the first content. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where the terminal 20 displays thefirst Talkroom image T1 on the basis of input to the second Talkroomimage T2, the user can view the first Talkroom image T1, including atleast a portion of the first content Q1, without scrolling the display.

In the second Talkroom image T2 in the lower-left diagram, the contentQ8 is a content based on the first content Q1 in the lower-rightdiagram. For example, without limitation, in cases where the displayregion 28A is a display region of a touch panel and the input device 25is an operation unit of the touch panel, the terminal 20 displays, onthe display region 28A, the first Talkroom image T1 including the firstcontent Q1 in cases where it is detected that the content Q8 based onthe first content Q1 has been tapped in the second Talkroom image T2 inthe lower-left diagram.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In the upper-left diagram of FIG. 18, image TL is an image of a list ofTalkrooms. In this example, the first Talkroom corresponding to thefirst group is {Baseball Club}, and the second Talkroom corresponding tothe second group is {User B}. Further, as described in FIG. 2, it isassumed that the information relating to the first content Q1 and thesecond content Q4 have already been transmitted by the terminal 20 tothe second Talkroom as the destination.

As illustrated in the upper-right diagram, the terminal 20 displays thesecond Talkroom image T2 on the display region 28A. For example, withoutlimitation, the terminal 20 displays the second Talkroom image T2 on thebasis of input to the Talkroom list image TL. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where it is detected that the {Baseball Club} iconhas been tapped on the touch panel serving as the input device 25 andthe display 28, the terminal 20 displays the second Talkroom image T2which is associated with this icon.

On the basis of the input to the second Talkroom image displayed on thedisplay region 28A, the terminal 20 displays a third image (in FIG. 18,the first Talkroom image T1 in the lower-right diagram) including thefirst content Q1 associated with the second content. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 displays the first Talkroom image T1on the basis of input to the second content Q4 and/or the informationrelating to the first content Q1, which are included in the secondTalkroom image T2. In the example of the lower-left diagram, theinformation relating to the first content Q1 is the first content Q1.For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays the firstTalkroom image T1 in cases where it is detected that the second contentQ4 and/or the information relating to the first content Q1, which areincluded in the second Talkroom image T2, have/has been tapped on thetouch panel serving as the input device 25 and the display 28. Theterminal 20 displays the first Talkroom image T1 in cases where it isdetected that at least a portion (for example, without limitation, thefirst content Q1) of the citation content Q5 has been tapped.

For example, without limitation, the command for executing a process ofswitching the image displayed on the display region 28A from the secondTalkroom image T2 to the first Talkroom image T1 is associated with adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroomimage T2. In the example of FIG. 18, the desired (or alternatively,predetermined) input is tapping of the first content Q1 included in thecitation content Q5. For example, without limitation, in cases where itis detected that there has been a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T2, the terminal 20switches the state of the display region 28A on which the secondTalkroom image T2 is displayed to a state where the first Talkroom imageT1 is displayed on the display region 28A, without delivering a state ofdisplaying the Talkroom list image TL on the display region 28A. Thedesired (or alternatively, predetermined) input may be input other thantapping, and may be, for example, without limitation, input made via amouse operation as the input device 25, input of audio using themicrophone 26, input of an image captured by the camera 27, or input viaother input devices.

It should be noted that, in cases where the amount of contents includedin each Talkroom exceeds an amount that can be displayed on the displayregion 28A at once, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20extracts, with the processor 21, an amount of contents that can bedisplayed on the display region 28A from the contents included in theTalkroom, and displays an image of the Talkroom including the extractedcontents. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 generates animage of the Talkroom such that the content transmitted most recently isarranged at the bottom of the display region 28A and that the contentsare arranged in reverse-chronological order, from the most-recentcontent toward above, on the basis of the timings that the respectivecontents were transmitted. Further, for example, without limitation, onthe basis of input to the Talkroom image, the terminal 20 changes thecontents to be included in the Talkroom image.

For example, without limitation, in cases where it is detected that theTalkroom image has been flicked upward in the longitudinal direction onthe touch panel serving as the input device 25 and the display 28, theprocessor 21 generates an image of the Talkroom so as to include acontent transmitted earlier than the currently displayed content. Theterminal 20 then displays, on the display region 28A, the image of theTalkroom generated by the processor 21. On the other hand, in caseswhere it is detected that the Talkroom image has been flicked downwardin the longitudinal direction, the processor 21 generates an image ofthe Talkroom so as to include a content transmitted later than thecurrently displayed content. The terminal 20 then displays, on thedisplay region 28A, the image of the Talkroom generated by the processor21. For example, without limitation, the user can make the displayregion 28A of the terminal 20 display a Talkroom image including adesired content by scrolling the display by operating the input device25 as the operation unit of the touch panel.

At the time of displaying the first Talkroom image T1 on the basis of adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroomimage T2, in cases where the amount of contents included in the firstTalkroom exceeds an amount that can be displayed on the display region28A at once, for example, without limitation, the processor 21 selects acontent to be included in the first Talkroom image T1, from among thecontents included in the first Talkroom, such that the first content Q1is included. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 extracts,from among the contents included in the first Talkroom, one or morecontents whose order in time at which the contents were transmitted isconsecutive with the order of the first content Q1. For example, withoutlimitation, the processor 21 generates the first Talkroom image T1 suchthat the extracted contents and the first content Q1 are lined up in theorder according to which the contents were transmitted. The terminal 20displays, on the display region 28A, the first Talkroom image T1generated by the processor 21.

The third image to be displayed by the terminal 20 on the display region28A on the basis of a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) input tothe second Talkroom image T2 may be identical to the first image, or maybe different from the first image. For example, without limitation, thethird image to be displayed by the terminal 20 on the display region 28Aon the basis of a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to thesecond Talkroom image T2 may be an image that is different from thefirst Talkroom image T1 displayed by the terminal 20 on the displayregion 28A on the basis of input to the Talkroom list image TL. Forexample, without limitation, in the third image, at least one of thecontents included in the first Talkroom image T1 may be omitted and/orshortened.

Eighth Example Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to an eighth example embodiment. For example, withoutlimitation, when an application for the messaging service is activated,the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, a Talkroom listimage TL as illustrated in the upper-left diagram of FIG. 18. Forexample, without limitation, the processor 21 reads out the Talkroominformation D2 (see FIG. 3(A)) stored in the storage 24, and generatesthe Talkroom list image TL. Then, the processor 21 controls the display28 and makes the display 28 display the image TL. In case where the userselects a Talkroom via the input unit 23A, the processor 21 displays animage of the Talkroom on the display region 28A. In this example, it isconsidered that a second content associated with a first contentincluded in a first Talkroom has already been transmitted to a secondTalkroom as the destination, and the user has selected the secondTalkroom. Further, in this example, the first Talkroom is the {User B}Talkroom in the Talkroom list image TL, and the second Talkroom is the{Baseball Club} Talkroom in the image TL.

In operation S61, the terminal 20 displays an image of the secondTalkroom. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 generatesthe second Talkroom image T2 as illustrated in the upper-right diagramof FIG. 18 on the basis of the Talkroom information D2 and the contentinformation D3 stored in the storage 24. For example, on the basis ofthe Talkroom information D2 illustrated in FIG. 3(A), the processor 21specifies {List 4} as the content information corresponding to thesecond Talkroom. Further, the processor 21 reads out the {List 4}illustrated in FIG. 3(C) from among the content information D3 stored inthe storage 24. The processor 21 then generates the second Talkroomimage T2 by arranging respective contents defined in the {List 4}according to a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) positionalrelationship. The processor 21 then controls the display 28, and makesthe display region 28A display the second Talkroom image T2.

In operation S62, the terminal 20 determines whether or not there isinput to the second Talkroom image T2. The terminal 20 accepts an inputby the user to the second Talkroom image T2. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the display region 28A is a display region ofa touch panel and the input device 25 is an operation unit of the touchpanel, the user can input various types of information into the terminal20 by operating the input device 25 superposed on the display region28A. For example, without limitation, in case where it is detected thatthe citation content Q5 displayed on the display region 28A has beentapped as illustrated in the lower-left diagram of FIG. 18, theprocessor 21 determines that there was a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T2 (operation S62:Yes).

It should be noted that the process for accepting an input to the secondTalkroom image T2 is not limited to the example illustrated in FIG. 18.For example, without limitation, the input device 25 may be a deviceother than the operation unit of the touch panel. For example, in caseswhere the input device 25 is a mouse, the user may move the pointerwithin the display region 28A onto the citation content Q5 (for example,the content Q1) via the mouse operation, and click the mouse to input acommand to display the first Talkroom image T1 on the display region28A. In some example embodiments, the terminal 20 may accept a desired(or alternatively, predetermined) input through a device other than theinput device 25. For example, the terminal may accept a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input through audio input using themicrophone 26.

In cases where the processor 21 determines that a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input was made to the second Talkroomimage T2 (operation S62: Yes), the terminal 20 displays, on the displayregion 28A, a third image including the first content in operation S63.For example, without limitation, the first content is the cited contentthat is being cited in the second content, and the terminal 20 displaysthe first Talkroom image T1 including the cited content. In cases wherethe processor 21 determines that there was no desired (or alternatively,predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T2 (operation S62:No), or after the process of operation S63, the terminal 20 ends theseries of processes.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating processes relating to the displayingof a third image. Operation S63 includes, for example, withoutlimitation, processes of operations S65 to S68. In operation S65, theprocessor 21 acquires information relating to the second content (forexample, without limitation, the {Association Information} in FIG.3(C)). In FIG. 3(C), the {Association Information} includes {tr01c01},which is the {Content ID} of the first content associated with thesecond content.

In operation S66, the processor 21 acquires information of one or morecontents, including the first content. For example, without limitation,on the basis of the content ID of the first content acquired inoperation S65, the processor 21 specifies the first Talkroom as theTalkroom including the first content. Then, for example, withoutlimitation, the processor 21 extracts, from contents included in thespecified first Talkroom, one or more contents that satisfy a desired(or alternatively, predetermined) condition with respect to the firstcontent.

The aforementioned desired (or alternatively, predetermined) conditionmay include, for example, without limitation, a condition that theextracted contents include the first content. The order in time at whichthe contents were transmitted is consecutive and the total amount of thecontents falls within an amount that can be displayed on the displayregion 28A at once. For example, without limitation, among the contentsdisplayed on the display region 28A at once, only a portion of thecontent arranged at the upper end of the Talkroom image and/or a portionof the content arranged at the lower end needs to be displayed on thedisplay region 28A. As for the contents to be displayed on the displayregion 28A at once, for example, without limitation, the entire contentsmay be displayed on the display region 28A, or a portion thereof may becropped at the ends of the Talkroom image.

The aforementioned desired (or alternatively, predetermined) conditionmay include, for example, without limitation, a condition that thecontents were transmitted within a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) time period including the time instant at which the firstcontent was transmitted. For example, the desired (or alternatively,predetermined) condition may include a condition that the contents weretransmitted on the same day as the first content was transmitted, or mayinclude a condition that the contents were transmitted within a desired(or alternatively, predetermined) length of time (e.g., 6 hours, a day,or a week) including the time instant at which the first content wastransmitted. In some example embodiments, the aforementioned desired (oralternatively, predetermined) condition may include a condition relatingto the terminal 20 or the user thereof that transmitted the content. Theaforementioned desired (or alternatively, predetermined) condition mayinclude, for example, without limitation, a condition that the extractedcontents are the ones transmitted by the terminal 20 that transmittedthe first content, or a condition that the extracted contents are theones transmitted by the terminal 20 that transmitted the second content.

The aforementioned desired (or alternatively, predetermined) conditionis not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may not include atleast one of the example conditions, or may include conditions otherthan the example conditions. As regards the contents extracted by theprocessor 21 in operation S66, the order in time at which the contentswere transmitted may not be consecutive.

In operation S67, the processor 21 generates the third image. Forexample, without limitation, the processor 21 generates the third imageon the basis of the information relating to the contents acquired inoperation S66. For example, without limitation, the processor 21generates the third image by arranging the contents acquired inoperation S66 according to a desired (or alternatively, predetermined)positional relationship. The third image may be identical to the firstimage, or may be different from the first image. For example, withoutlimitation, the third image may be an image generated according to thealgorithm for generating the first image, or may be an image generatedaccording to a different algorithm from the one for generating the firstimage.

At least one of the contents arranged in the third image may not beequivalent to that in the contents included in the first Talkroom, andmay be, for example, without limitation, a content obtained by applyingprocessing on the contents included in the first Talkroom. In operationS68, the terminal 20 outputs, to the display 28, the third imagegenerated by the processor 21, and displays the third image on thedisplay region 28A.

In the present example embodiment, the program P2 is an informationprocessing program to be executed by a terminal of a user who isincluded in a second group including a plurality of users, theinformation processing program causing (1) displaying a second imageincluding a second content among contents transmitted and received amongterminals corresponding to the second group on a display region of theterminal, the second content being associated with a first content in afirst image including contents transmitted and received among terminalscorresponding to a first group including a plurality of users, and (2)on the basis of input by the user of the terminal to the second imagedisplayed on the display region, displaying a third image including thefirst content associated with the second content on the display region.For example, without limitation, the program P2 causes a processor 21(for example, without limitation, a computer or CPU) to execute (1)displaying a second image including a second content among contentstransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to the secondgroup on a display region of the terminal, the second content beingassociated with a first content in a first image including contentstransmitted and received among terminals corresponding to a first groupincluding a plurality of users, and (2) on the basis of input by theuser of the terminal to the second image displayed on the displayregion, displaying a third image including the first content associatedwith the second content on the display region.

The aforementioned terminal 20 displays, on the display region, a thirdimage including the first content associated with the second content, onthe basis of input by the user of the terminal to the second imagedisplayed on the display region. Thus, the user of the terminal 20 canrecognize, through the third image, at least a portion of the firstcontent associated with the second content. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the terminal 20 that transmitted the secondcontent is equivalent to the terminal 20 displaying the third image onthe basis of input to the second image, the user can easily check thefirst content. For example, without limitation, the third image mayinclude content transmitted before the first content and/or a contenttransmitted after the first content. In this case, the user canrecognize the flow and the background history of contents including thefirst content, thus the user's convenience is improved.

Ninth Example Embodiment

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a ninth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment isdifferent from the eighth embodiment where a second terminal (e.g., theterminal 20C in FIG. 21) that displays a second Talkroom image includinga second content is different from a first terminal (e.g., the terminal20A in FIG. 2) that transmitted the second content.

For example, without limitation, on the basis of input to a secondTalkroom image T12 as illustrated in the lower-left diagram, theterminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, a first Talkroom imageT11 as illustrated in the lower-right diagram. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where it is detected that a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input was made to the second Talkroomimage T12, the terminal 20 displays the first Talkroom image T11 on thebasis of information relating to the first content Q1. In a mode wherethe first Talkroom image T11 is displayed on the basis of input to thesecond Talkroom image T12, the information relating to the first contentincludes, for example, without limitation, information for specifyingthe first content in the messaging service. The information forspecifying the first content includes, for example, without limitation,identification information of the first content. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases of displaying the first Talkroom image T11 on thebasis of input to the second Talkroom image T12, the terminal 20displays the first Talkroom image T11 by specifying the Talkroomincluding the first content as the first Talkroom on the basis of theidentification information of the first content.

For example, without limitation, in cases where the terminal 20 is usedby a user who is not included in the first group (e.g., the terminal20C), the terminal 20 receives, as a content to be included in the firstTalkroom image T11, one or more contents, including at least a portionof the first content, from among contents included in the first Talkroomon the basis of the identification information of the first content, andgenerates the first Talkroom image T11 on the basis of the receivedcontents.

For example, without limitation, in cases where there is a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T12,the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, the first Talkroomimage T11 illustrated in the lower-right diagram, without delivering astate of displaying the Talkroom list image TL illustrated in theupper-left diagram. For example, without limitation, in cases where theterminal 20 is used by a user who is not included in the first group(e.g., the terminal 20C), the terminal 20 receives, from among contentsincluded in the first Talkroom, contents of an amount that has been setso as to be displayable on the display region 28A at once, and displaysthe first Talkroom image T11 on the basis of the received contents. Forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not receive allthe contents included in the first Talkroom.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

For example, without limitation, in FIG. 21, the user who hastransmitted the information relating to the first content and the secondcontent is the user A, whose terminal 20 is the terminal 20A. Forexample, without limitation, the terminal 20 in FIG. 21 is a terminal ofthe user C who is different from the user A, and is the terminal 20C.For example, without limitation, the first group corresponding to thefirst Talkroom illustrated in the upper-right diagram of FIG. 2 isconstituted by the user A and the user B, and the user C, who is theuser of the terminal 20C, is included in the second group but is notincluded in the first group.

As illustrated in the upper-left diagram of FIG. 21, for example,without limitation, the terminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A,an image TL of a list of Talkrooms associated with the subject terminalor the user thereof. For example, without limitation, Talkroomsassociated with the subject terminal or the user thereof t are Talkroomsincluding the user of the subject terminal. In cases where a Talkroom isselected via an input to the Talkroom list image TL, the terminal 20displays an image of the selected Talkroom on the display region 28A. Inthe terminal 20C, for example, without limitation, the display region28A is a display region of a touch panel and the input device 25 is anoperation unit of the touch panel. In cases where the {Baseball Club}icon in the Talkroom list image TL is tapped, the terminal 20C displays,on the display region 28A, an image T12 of the Talkroom whose name Ta is{Baseball Club}, as illustrated in the upper-right diagram of FIG. 21.

In the Talkroom image T12, reference sign Q8 indicates a content basedon the information relating to the first content Q1. The informationrelating to the first content Q1 has been transmitted from the terminal20A of user A. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20Creceives the information relating to the first content Q1 via the server10. For example, without limitation, the terminal 20 receives,identification information of the first content Q1 and at least aportion of the first content Q1 as the information relating to the firstcontent Q1. On the basis of at least a portion of the received firstcontent Q1, the terminal 20 generates a second Talkroom image T12including content Q8 relating to the first content Q1.

On the basis of input to the second Talkroom image T12 displayed on thedisplay region 28A, the terminal 20C displays a third image (in FIG. 21,the first Talkroom image T11 illustrated in the lower-right diagram)including the first content Q1 associated with the second content Q4.For example, without limitation, the terminal 20C displays the firstTalkroom image T11 on the basis of input to the citation content Q5included in the second Talkroom image T12 in the lower-left diagram. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where the display region 28A ofthe terminal 20C is a display region of a touch panel and the inputdevice 25 thereof is an operation unit of the touch panel, the terminal20C displays the first Talkroom image T11 in cases where it is detectedthat the citation content Q5 included in the second Talkroom image T12has been tapped.

For example, without limitation, the command for executing a process ofswitching the image displayed on the display region 28A from the secondTalkroom image T12 to the first Talkroom image T11 is associated with adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroomimage T12. In the example of FIG. 21, the desired (or alternatively,predetermined) input is tapping of the citation content Q5. For example,without limitation, in cases where it is detected that there has been adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroomimage T12, the terminal 20C switches the state of the display region 28Aon which the second Talkroom image T12 is displayed to a state where thefirst Talkroom image T11 is displayed on the display region 28A, withoutdelivering a state of displaying the Talkroom list image TL on thedisplay region 28A. The desired (or alternatively, predetermined) inputmay be input other than tapping, and may be, for example, withoutlimitation, input made by a mouse operation as the input device 25,input of audio using the microphone 26, input of an image captured bythe camera 27, or input via other input devices.

For example, without limitation, in cases where it is detected thatthere has been a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to thesecond Talkroom image T12, the terminal 20C transmits the identificationinformation of the first content Q1 to a device storing the firstcontent Q1. The device storing the first content Q1 may be, for example,without limitation, a terminal 20 of a user who is included in the firstgroup (e.g., terminal 20A, terminal 20B, etc.) and/or the server 10.

For example, without limitation, the terminal 20C transmits theinformation relating to the first content Q1 (e.g., the identificationinformation of the first content Q1), and, in response to transmittingthe information relating to the first content Q1, receives informationof content(s) to be included in the third image. For example, withoutlimitation, the server 10 stores, in the storage 13, the contentinformation D7 including a content included in the first Talkroom. Incases of receiving the identification information of the first contentQ1 transmitted by the terminal 20C, the server 10 transmits one or morecontents, including the first content Q1, on the basis of the contentinformation D7. In cases of receiving contents transmitted from theserver 10, the terminal 20C generates a third image by arranging thereceived contents according to a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) positional relationship.

It should be noted that the server 10 may not store content informationD7 including contents included in the first Talkroom. In this case, forexample, without limitation, the server 10 may acquire one or morecontents, including the first content Q1, from the terminal 20A orterminal 20B retaining the contents included in the first Talkroom, andmay transmit the acquired contents to the terminal 20C. The server 10may, for example, without limitation: transmit, to the terminal 20A,information requesting the transmission of contents included in thefirst Talkroom, receive the contents included in the first Talkroom as aresponse to the request, and transmit the received contents included inthe first Talkroom to the terminal 20C.

It should be noted that, in cases where the amount of contents includedin each Talkroom exceeds an amount that can be displayed on the displayregion 28A at once, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20Cextracts, using the processor 21, an amount of contents that can bedisplayed at once on the display region 28A from the contents includedin the Talkroom, and displays an image of the Talkroom including theextracted contents. For example, without limitation, the processor 21generates an image of the Talkroom such that the content transmittedmost recently is arranged at the bottom of the display region 28A andthat the contents are arranged in reverse-chronological order, from themost-recent content toward above, on the basis of the timings that therespective contents were transmitted. Further, for example, withoutlimitation, on the basis of input to the Talkroom image, the terminal20C changes the contents to be included in the Talkroom image.

For example, without limitation, in cases where it is detected that theTalkroom image has been flicked upward in the longitudinal direction onthe touch panel serving as the input device 25 and the display 28, theprocessor 21 generates an image of the Talkroom so as to include acontent transmitted earlier than the currently displayed content. Theterminal 20C then displays, on the display region 28A, the image of theTalkroom generated by the processor 21. On the other hand, in caseswhere it is detected that the Talkroom image has been flicked downwardin the longitudinal direction, the processor 21 generates an image ofthe Talkroom so as to include a content transmitted later than thecurrently displayed content. The terminal 20C then displays, on thedisplay region 28A, the image of the Talkroom generated by the processor21. For example, without limitation, it is possible to display, in thedisplay region 28A of the terminal 20C, a Talkroom image including adesired content by user operation to scroll the display via the inputdevice 25 as the operation unit of the touch panel.

In cases where the amount of contents included in the first Talkroomexceeds an amount that can be displayed on the display region 28A atonce, the contents to be included in the first Talkroom image T11 is,for example, without limitation, selected from among the contentsincluded in the first Talkroom. The contents to be included in the firstTalkroom image T11 may be selected either by the terminal 20A, theserver 10, or the terminal 20C. The third image to be displayed by theterminal 20C on the display region 28A on the basis of a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T12 maybe identical to the first image, or may be different from the firstimage.

As described above, the terminal 20C displaying the third image on thebasis of input to the second image may be a terminal other than theterminal 20A of the user who has transmitted the second content. In thiscase, the user of the terminal 20C can recognize, through the thirdimage, at least a portion of the first content associated with thesecond content. For example, without limitation, the third imageincludes a content transmitted before the first content and/or contenttransmitted after the first content. In this case, the user canrecognize the flow and the background history of contents including thefirst content, thus the user's convenience is improved.

For example, without limitation, the second image displayed on theterminal 20 (e.g., the terminal 20C) of a user who is different from theuser who has transmitted the second content may be different from thesecond image displayed on the terminal 20 (e.g., the terminal 20A) ofthe user who has transmitted the second content. Also, for example,without limitation, the third image displayed on the terminal 20 (e.g.,the terminal 20C) of a user who is different from the user who hastransmitted the second content may be different from the third imagedisplayed on the terminal 20 (e.g., the terminal 20A) of the user whohas transmitted the second content. Examples of the second and thirdimages will be described below with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating processes relating to the displayingof second and third images. In the upper diagram of FIG. 22, referencesign Q21 indicates content included in the second Talkroom image T12.Different from the second content Q4 associated with the first contentQ1, the content Q21 is a third content that is not associated withanother content. The third content Q21 is, for example, withoutlimitation, content that does not cite another content. The thirdcontent Q21 and information relating to a user who has transmitted thethird content Q21 are displayed in a set on the display region 28A. Theinformation relating to the user is, for example, without limitation,information for specifying the user who has transmitted the content.

In FIG. 22, the user that has their terminal transmitted the thirdcontent Q21 is the user D, and the information relating to the userincludes, for example, without limitation, an icon of the user D and theuser's name. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 of theterminal 20C arranges, within the second Talkroom image T12 according toa desired (or alternatively, predetermined) positional relationship, thethird content Q21 and the information (e.g., the icon Ud1 and the user'sname Ud2) relating to the user who has transmitted the third contentQ21. Further, the processor 21 makes a setting not to display theinformation relating to the user who has transmitted the second contentQ4, among the contents included in the second Talkroom image T12, on thedisplay region 28A. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 ofthe terminal 20C does not arrange, with respect to the second contentQ4, the information relating to the user who has transmitted the secondcontent Q4 in the second Talkroom image T12.

The lower diagram of FIG. 22 is, for example, without limitation, adiagram illustrating a third image (in this example, the first Talkroomimage T11) in case where the processor 21 makes a setting not to displaythe information relating to the user who has transmitted the secondcontent Q4. In the first Talkroom image T11 displayed on the basis ofthe second Talkroom image T12, the processor 21 makes a setting todisplay no information relating to the users who has transmitted acontent on the display region 28A. In the first Talkroom image T11illustrated in the lower-right diagram of FIG. 21, the user who hastransmitted the first content Q1 is the user A. In this first Talkroomimage T11, the information relating to the user is, for example, withoutlimitation, the icon Ua1 of the user A and the user's name Ua2. The iconUa1 and the user's name Ua2 are arranged according to a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) positional relationship with respect tothe first content Q1. On the other hand, in the first Talkroom image T11illustrated in the lower diagram of FIG. 22, the processor 21 makes asetting not to display the information relating to the user who hastransmitted the first content Q1 on the display region 28A. For example,without limitation, the processor 21 of the terminal 20C does notarrange, within the first Talkroom image T11, information relating tothe users who has transmitted a content included in the first Talkroom.In this case, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20C may ormay not receive the information relating to the users who hastransmitted a content included in the first Talkroom.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating processes relating to the displayingof second and third images. The processor 21 makes a setting not todisplay the information relating to the user who has transmitted thesecond content Q4, among the contents included in the second Talkroomimage T12 illustrated in the upper diagram of FIG. 23, on the displayregion 28A. For example, without limitation, the processor 21 of theterminal 20C does not arrange the information relating to the user whohas transmitted the second content Q4 in the second Talkroom image T12.Further, instead of the information relating to the user who hastransmitted the second content Q4, the second Talkroom image T12includes information that does not specify the user who has transmittedthe second content Q4. The information that does not specify the useris, for example, without limitation, an icon Ux1 and user name Ux2assigned by the terminal 20C. For example, without limitation, theprocessor 21 of the terminal 20C generates the second Talkroom image T12by arranging the second content Q4, the icon Ux1, and the user name Ux2according to a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) positionalrelationship.

The lower diagram of FIG. 23 is, for example, without limitation, adiagram illustrating a third image (in this example, the first Talkroomimage T11) in case where information that does not specify the user isdisplayed instead of the information relating to the user who hastransmitted the second content Q4. In the first Talkroom image T11displayed on the basis of the second Talkroom image T12, the processor21 makes a setting not to display information relating to users thathave their terminal have transmitted a content on the display region28A. This first Talkroom image T11 includes information that does notspecify users, instead of information relating to users that have theirterminal have transmitted the respective contents. The information thatdoes not specify users is, for example, without limitation, an icon Ux1and user name Ux2 for the user A illustrated in the lower-right diagramof FIG. 21, and an icon Uy1 and user name Uy2 for the user B. The iconsUx1 and Uy1 are respectively set in a one-to-one correspondence with theusers (in this example, the users A and B) in the first groupcorresponding to the first Talkroom, but the correspondence with theusers is not shown. Also, the user names Ux2 and Uy2 are respectivelyset in a one-to-one correspondence with the users (in this example, theusers A and B) in the first group corresponding to the first Talkroom,but the correspondence with the users is not shown.

In cases where the processor 21 makes a setting not to display theinformation relating to the user who has transmitted the second contenton the display region 28A as described in FIGS. 22 and 23, it isdifficult for other user to specify the user when transmitting theinformation relating to the first content via a terminal 20. Forexample, without limitation, this information processing method allowsusers to cite a content of other users, thereby contributing to sharingof information. In cases where the processor 21 makes a setting not todisplay information relating to users that have their terminal havetransmitted the respective contents when displaying the third image onthe basis of input to the second image, it is possible to reduceconcerns of users in the first Talkroom, that information relating tothe users will be known to other users who viewed the third image,thereby improves the users' convenience. In cases where information thatdoes not specify users is displayed instead of the information relatingto the users, dispersal of information relating to the users can besuppressed, and the context, etc. of a content included in the thirdimage can be grasped easily.

Tenth Example Embodiment

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a tenth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment is,for example, without limitation, a configuration wherein it isdetermined whether or not to permit displaying of a first Talkroom imagebased on input to a second Talkroom image by a user. For example,without limitation, in cases where the user of the subject terminalsatisfies a desired (or alternatively, predetermined) condition when adesired (or alternatively, predetermined) input to a second Talkroomimage is detected, the terminal 20 displays a first Talkroom image onthe display region 28A. The aforementioned desired (or alternatively,predetermined) condition is, for example, without limitation, acondition that the user who has transmitted the second content isequivalent to the user of the subject terminal. For example, withoutlimitation, the third image is displayed on the display region 28A incases where the user who has transmitted the second content isequivalent to the user of the terminal 20.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 24, the processes of operations S61 and S62 are the same asthose in FIG. 19. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted orsimplified. In cases where the processor 21 determines that there isinput to the second Talkroom image in step S62 (operation S62: Yes), theterminal 20 determines whether or not to permit displaying of the thirdimage in operation S71. For example, without limitation, the processor21 determines to permit displaying of the third image (operation S71:Yes) in cases where the user who has transmitted the second content isequivalent to the user of the subject terminal. The processor 21executes the process of operation S71 on the basis of, for example,without limitation, the content information D3 illustrated in FIG. 3(C).In the example of FIG. 3(C), the second content is a content whose{Content ID} is {tr01c01}, and the {Transmission User ID} thereof is{User A}. In this case, the processor 21 compares the user ID of theuser of the subject terminal and {User A} which is the {TransmissionUser ID} corresponding to the second content, and determines whether ornot the two match.

In cases where the processor 21 determines to permit displaying of thethird image (operation S71: Yes), the terminal 20 displays the thirdimage in operation S72. In cases where the user who has transmitted thesecond content and the user of the subject terminal are equivalent, theuser is included in the first group corresponding to the first Talkroom,and, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 stores the contentinformation D3, including a content included in the first Talkroom, inthe storage 24. In operation S72, for example, without limitation, theprocessor 21 generates the third image on the basis of the contentinformation D3 (see FIG. 3(B)) stored in the storage 24. The processor21 then controls the display 28 to display the generated third image onthe display region 28A.

In cases where the processor 21 determines that there is no input to thesecond Talkroom image in operation S62 (operation S62: No), or in caseswhere the processor 21 determines not to permit displaying of the thirdimage in operation S71 (operation S71: No), the terminal 20 ends theseries of processes relating to the displaying of the third image.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned terminal 20 displaysthe third image on the display region 28A in cases where the user whohas transmitted the second content is equivalent to the user of theterminal 20. For example, without limitation, this informationprocessing method prevents the third image from being displayed on aterminal 20 of a user who is different from the user who has transmittedthe second content, and thus suppresses dispersal of informationincluded in the third image to unintended users. Thus, the user of theterminal 20 can view the first content associated with the secondcontent without worrying about unintended dispersal of information, andthus, the user's convenience is improved.

Eleventh Example Embodiment

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to an eleventh example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The eleventh embodiment is, forexample, without limitation, a configuration wherein, on the basis ofinput to a second Talkroom image, a first Talkroom image is displayed ona terminal of a user who is not included in a first group. For example,without limitation, in cases where users included in a first group andusers included in a second group satisfy a desired (or alternatively,predetermined) condition, the terminal 20 displays a first Talkroomimage. For example, without limitation, in cases where the first groupincludes N3 or more users, different from the user of the subjectterminal, from among the users included in the second group, theterminal 20 displays the first Talkroom image. For example, withoutlimitation, the aforementioned N3 is a discretionary value of 1 orgreater, and is a value set in advance. For example, without limitation,the first Talkroom image is displayed on the display region 28A in caseswhere the first group includes one or more users, different from theuser of the terminal, from among the users included in the second group.

The present example embodiment is also a configuration wherein, forexample, without limitation, in cases of displaying a first Talkroomimage on the basis of input to a second Talkroom image by a user who isnot included in a first group, such a user is added to the first group.For example, in FIG. 21, user C of the terminal 20C is a user who is notincluded in the first group corresponding to the first Talkroom but is auser included in the second group corresponding to the second Talkroom.For example, without limitation, in cases where there is a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input to the second Talkroom image T12,the terminal 20C transmits information requesting the transmission of acontent included in the first Talkroom. The information requesting thetransmission of a content includes, for example, without limitation,identification information of the first content. In cases where theserver 10 receives the information requesting the transmission of acontent and, in response thereto, transmits a content included in thefirst Talkroom, the server 10 adds, for example, without limitation, theuser C of the terminal 20C to the first group. The informationrequesting the transmission of a content may, for example, withoutlimitation, be transmitted to a terminal 20 (e.g., terminal 20A orterminal 20B) included in the first group via the server 10. In thiscase, the terminal 20 of a user included in the first group may add theuser C of the terminal 20C to the first group.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 25, the processes of operations S61 and S62 are the same asthose in FIG. 19. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted orsimplified. In cases where the processor 21 determines that there isinput to the second Talkroom image in operation S62 (operation S62:Yes), the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permit displaying ofthe third image in operation S75. For example, without limitation, incases where the first group includes N2 or more users, different fromthe user who has transmitted the second content, from among the usersincluded in the second group, the processor 21 determines to permitdisplaying of the third image. The aforementioned N2 is a valuediscretionarily set from among integers of 1 or greater.

In this example, it is assumed that users A and B constitute the firstgroup, and the user A is the user who has transmitted the secondcontent. It is also assumed that users A, B, C, and D constitute thesecond group. In cases where the user of the subject terminal is user C,then users B, C, and D are the users, different from the user who hastransmitted the second content, from among the users included in thesecond group, and among these users, the user B is included in the firstgroup. Thus, the processor 21 of the terminal 20C of the user Cdetermines to permit displaying of the third image.

In cases where the processor 21 determines to permit displaying of thethird image (operation S75: Yes), the terminal 20 displays the thirdimage in operation S76. In cases where the user of the subject terminalis included in the first group, for example, without limitation, theprocessor 21 generates the third image on the basis of the contentinformation D3 stored in the storage 24. The third image is, forexample, without limitation, the first Talkroom image including thefirst content. On the other hand, in cases where the user of the subjectterminal is not included in the first group, for example, withoutlimitation, the processor 21 generates the third image on the basis of acontent transmitted from the server 10 or from terminals 20 of usersincluded in the first group. The processor 21 controls the display 28 todisplay the generated third image on the display region 28A.

Further, in operation S77, the processor 21 determines whether or notthe user of the subject terminal is included in the first group. Incases where it is determined that the user of the subject terminal isnot included in the first group (operation S77: No), the processor 21adds the user of the subject terminal to the first group in operationS78. At least a portion of the processes of operations S77 and S78 may,for example, without limitation, be included in the process of operationS76. For example, without limitation, in cases where it is determinedthat the user of the subject terminal is included in the first group,the processor 21 may generate the third image on the basis of thecontent information D3 stored in the storage 24. On the other hand, forexample, without limitation, in cases where it is determined that theuser of the subject terminal is not included in the first group, theterminal 20 may receive a content to be included in the third image fromthe server 10 or from terminals 20 of users included in the first group.In this case, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 maytransmit request information requesting the transmission of a content tobe included in the third image, and the server 10 having received therequest information, or a terminal 20 of a user included in the firstgroup, may execute a process for adding, to the first group, the user ofthe terminal 20 that transmitted the request information.

In cases where the processor 21 determines not to permit displaying ofthe third image in operation S75 (operation S75: No), for example,without limitation, the terminal 20 notifies non-permission to displaythe third image in operation S79. For example, without limitation, theterminal 20 may display a message such as “Third image cannot bedisplayed” on the display region 28A, or may output, from the speaker29, a sound such as an alarm or a voice stating that “Third image cannotbe displayed”. In some example embodiments, the process of operation S75may not be included.

In any of the following cases, the terminal 20 ends the series ofprocesses relating to the displaying of the third image based on inputto the second image: in cases where the processor 21 determines thatthere is no input to the second Talkroom image in operation S62(operation S62: No) in cases where it determines in operation S77 thatthe user of the subject terminal is included in the first group(operation S77: Yes) after the process of operation S78, or after theprocess of operation S79.

The aforementioned terminal 20 displays the third image in cases where,for example, without limitation, the first group includes M or moreusers, different from the user who has transmitted the second content,from among the plurality of users included in the second group. Stateddifferently, the terminal 20 displays the third image in cases wherethere are overlapping users, other than the user who has transmitted thesecond content, between the first group and the second group. Thus, theterminal 20 can, for example, without limitation, display the thirdimage including the first content, which is transmitted and receivedamong terminals corresponding to the first group relating to the secondgroup. It is thus possible, for example, to share information whileinhibiting unintended dispersal of information.

Further, the user of the terminal 20 is registered into the first groupin cases where the user of the terminal 20 is not included in the firstgroup but the third image is to be displayed on the basis of input tothe second content by the user of the terminal 20. This informationprocessing method contributes to the inhibition of unintendeddissemination of information, because the user of the terminal 20displaying the third image will be included in the first group in whichthe first content has been transmitted and received. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 of the user that is not included inthe first group may display the third image after the user of thesubject terminal is added to the first group. In some exampleembodiments, the user not included in the first group may be added tothe first group after the terminal 20 of the user is displayed the thirdimage.

The aforementioned whether-or-not-to-permit-displaying determinationprocess of determining whether or not to permit displaying of the thirdimage is, for example, without limitation, executed in operation S75 onthe basis of users included in the first group and users included in thesecond group, but the process is not limited to this example. Theprocessor 21 may, for example, without limitation, execute thewhether-or-not-to-permit-displaying determination process on the basisof the types of Talkrooms described in FIG. 17. For example, withoutlimitation, the processor 21 may determine to permit displaying of thethird image including the first content in cases where the type of thefirst Talkroom, including the first content, is {Public}. Thiswhether-or-not-to-permit-displaying determination process may beexecuted instead of the process of operation S75, may be executedseparately from the process of operation S75, or may not be included.

In cases where displaying of the third image is not permitted, theterminal 20 may, for example, without limitation, change the form of thefirst content included in the second image. FIG. 26 is a diagramillustrating processes relating to the displaying of a second image incases where the displaying of a third image is not permitted.

In the upper diagram of FIG. 26, the second Talkroom image T12 includesfirst information Q5 on the first content. The first information Q5 hasa smaller amount of information compared to the first content Q1illustrated in the lower-right diagram of FIG. 21. The first informationQ5 is, for example, without limitation, information based on theinformation relating to the first content. The first information Q5 maybe, for example, without limitation, information made by shortening thefirst content Q1, information made by compressing the first content Q1,or information made by omitting a portion of the first content Q1. Incases where displaying of the third image (for example, the firstTalkroom image T11) based on input by the user of the subject terminalwith respect to the second Talkroom image T12 is not permitted, theterminal 20 displays, for example, without limitation, a second Talkroomimage T12 including second information Q6, as illustrated in the lowerdiagram of FIG. 26. The second information Q6 is information having alarger amount of information relating to the first content than thefirst information. The second information Q6 is, for example, withoutlimitation, information based on the information relating to the firstcontent. The second information Q6 is, for example, without limitation,identical to the first content Q1.

In cases where the terminal 20 displays the second image including firstinformation Q5 having a smaller amount of information compared to thefirst content Q1 as described above, it is possible, for example,without limitation, to display information relating to the first contentQ1 in a compact manner. Thus, for example, without limitation, thenumber of contents displayed on the display region 28A at once by theterminal 20 can be increased, and thus, the amount of informationprovided to the user can be increased.

Further, for example, without limitation, in cases where displaying ofthe third image (for example, the first Talkroom image T11) based oninput by the user of the subject terminal with respect to the secondTalkroom image T12 is not permitted, the terminal 20 displays a secondTalkroom image T12 including second information Q6 having a largeramount of information relating to the first content than the firstinformation Q5. This information processing method contributes to theinhibition of unintended dispersal of a content other than the firstcontent among the contents included in the first Talkroom, and it canalso be convenient for a user, to which displaying of the third image isnot permitted, by providing more information relating to the firstcontent.

Twelfth Example Embodiment

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a twelfth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment isdifferent from the foregoing embodiment where a terminal 20 transmitsinformation requesting permission to display the first Talkroom image.In the following description, information requesting permission todisplay the first Talkroom image is referred to as a display permissionrequest, and the terminal 20 transmitting the display permission requestis referred to as a third terminal, as appropriate. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the server 10 receives a display permissionrequest transmitted from a third terminal, the server 10 transmits, inresponse to the display permission request, information based on adetermination result regarding determination as to whether or not thethird terminal is permitted to display the first Talkroom image. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where displaying of the firstTalkroom image is permitted, the aforementioned information based on thedetermination result may include a content to be included in the firstTalkroom image. In cases where the aforementioned information based onthe determination result is received, the third terminal displays, onthe display region 28A of the subject terminal, the first Talkroom imageon the basis of this information.

Also, the present example embodiment is, for example, withoutlimitation, a mode wherein whether or not to permit displaying of thefirst Talkroom image on the basis of input to the second Talkroom imageis determined according to a plurality of conditions. The terminal 20determines whether or not to permit displaying of the first Talkroomimage on the display region 28A of the subject terminal. For example,without limitation, the terminal 20 displays the first Talkroom image incases where the subject terminal determines to permit displaying of thefirst Talkroom image, whereas the terminal 20 transmits a displaypermission request in cases where the subject terminal determines not topermit displaying of the first Talkroom. For example, withoutlimitation, a device other than the third terminal that received thedisplay permission request (for example, the server 10 or the terminal20 that transmitted the second content) determines whether or not topermit the third terminal to display the first Talkroom image. On thebasis of a response to the display permission request, the thirdterminal displays the first Talkroom image.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In FIG. 27, the processes of operations S61 and S62 are the same asthose in FIG. 19. Therefore, explanation thereon is omitted orsimplified. In cases where the processor 21 determines that there isinput to the second Talkroom image in operation S62 (operation S62:Yes), the terminal 20 determines whether or not to permit displaying ofthe third image in operation S81. For example, without limitation, theprocessor 21 determines to permit displaying of the third image(operation S81: Yes) in cases where the user who has transmitted thesecond content is equivalent to the user of the subject terminal. Incases where it is determined not to permit displaying of the third image(operation S81: No), the terminal 20 transmits a request for permissionto display the third image.

The server 10, in cases of receiving the permission request transmittedby the terminal 20, determines whether or not to permit displaying ofthe third image in operation S83. For example, without limitation, incases where the first group includes M or more users, different from theuser who has transmitted the second content, from among the usersincluded in the second group, the server 10 determines to permitdisplaying of the third image. In cases where it is determined to permitdisplaying of the third image (operation S83: Yes), the server 10transmits information relating to the third image in operation S84. Theinformation relating to the third image is, for example, withoutlimitation, a content permitted to be included in the third image. Forexample, without limitation, the server 10 transmits the informationrelating to the third image as a notification to permit displaying ofthe third image.

In cases where it is determined not to permit displaying of the thirdimage (operation S83: No), the server 10 determines whether or not todeny permission to display (which means, for example, withoutlimitation, to prohibit to display) the third image in operation S85.The server 10 determines to deny permission to display the third imagein cases where it is determined not to permit displaying of the thirdimage in operation S83. In cases where it is determined to denypermission to display the third image (operation S85: Yes), the server10 transmits, in operation S86, a non-permission notification indicatingthat displaying of the third image is not permitted.

The processes of operations S83 to S86 may, for example, withoutlimitation, be executed by the terminal 20 which is permitted to displaythe first Talkroom image, or by the terminal 20 and the server 10. Theaforementioned terminal 20 which is permitted to display the firstTalkroom image is, for example, without limitation, one or more ofterminals 20 of users included in the first group corresponding to thefirst Talkroom.

In operation S87, the processor 21 of the terminal 20 determines whetheror not a non-permission notification has been received. In cases whereit is determined that a non-permission notification has not beenreceived (operation S87: No), the processor 21 determines, in operationS88, whether or not the information relating to the third image has beenreceived. In cases where it is determined that the information relatingto the third image has not been received (operation S88: No), theprocessor 21 returns to operation S87 and repeats the process.

In cases where the processor 21 determines to permit displaying of thethird image in operation S81 (operation S81: Yes), or in cases where theprocessor 21 determines that the information relating to the third imagehas been received in operation S88 (operation S88: Yes), the terminal 20displays the third image in operation S89. For example, withoutlimitation, in cases where the processor 21 determines to permitdisplaying of the third image in operation S81 (operation S81: Yes), theterminal 20 displays the third image on the basis of content informationstored in the storage 24. In some example embodiments, the terminal 20displays the third image on the display region 28A on the basis ofreceipt, by the communication unit (for example, without limitation, thecommunication I/F 22), of a response to the request for permission. Forexample, without limitation, in cases where the processor 21 determinesthat the information relating to the third image has been received(operation S88: Yes), the third image is displayed on the basis of thereceived information relating to the third image.

example, without limitation, in cases where it is determined that anon-permission notification has been received in operation S87, theterminal 20 displays, on the display region 28A, information relating towhether or not to permit displaying of the third image. For example,without limitation, in cases where it is determined that anon-permission notification has been received, the terminal 20 displaysa message such as “Third image cannot be displayed” on the displayregion 28A. In some example embodiments, in cases where it is determinedthat a non-permission notification has been received, the terminal 20may, for example, without limitation, output an alarm sound or a voicestating that “Third image cannot be displayed” from the speaker 29.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned informationprocessing method involves determining, according to a plurality ofconditions, whether or not to permit displaying of the first Talkroomimage on the basis of input to the second Talkroom image. Thisinformation processing method can, for example, without limitation,minutely set conditions for permitting transmission of the informationrelating to the first content, and thus, it is possible to shareinformation among a plurality of users while preventing unintendedleakage of information. For example, without limitation, in cases wherethe content Q8 based on the first content as illustrated in thelower-left diagram of FIG. 21 is selected, the terminal 20 permitsdisplaying of the first Talkroom image T11 and displays the firstTalkroom image T11 in cases where the user of the terminal 20 thattransmitted the second content Q4 associated with the first content isequivalent to the user of the subject terminal. In this case, the usercan view the first Talkroom image T11 promptly, thereby excellent userconvenience is provided. On the other hand, in cases where the user ofthe terminal 20 that transmitted the second content Q4 associated withthe first content is different from the user of the subject terminal,the terminal 20 displays the first Talkroom image on the basis of aresponse to a request for permission to display the first Talkroomimage. This information processing method provides, for example, withoutlimitation, a possibility of displaying the first Talkroom image at aterminal 20 whose user is different from the user of the terminal 20that transmitted the second content Q4, and thus, the user's convenienceis improved.

Further, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 transmits, viathe communication unit of the terminal 20, a request for permission todisplay the third image, and displays, on the display region 28A, thethird image on the basis of receipt, via the communication unit, of aresponse to the request for permission. This information processingmethod can, for example, without limitation, reduce the processing loadof the terminal 20, because the terminal 20 does not need to determinewhether or not to permit displaying of the third image. Further, withthis information processing method, for example, without limitation,even when the terminal 20 does not have enough information necessary fordetermining whether or not to permit displaying of the first Talkroomimage, the terminal 20 can display the first Talkroom image inaccordance with a response to a display permission request. Thisincreases the possibility that the terminal 20 is able to display thefirst Talkroom image, thus the user's convenience is improved. Further,according to this information processing method, for example, withoutlimitation, whether or not to permit displaying of the third image isdetermined in a device (for example, without limitation, the server 10)being external to the terminal 20 that is to display the third image.Thus, it is possible to inhibit unauthorized viewing of the firstTalkroom.

It should be noted that, for example, without limitation, the terminal20 may not determine whether or not to permit displaying of the firstTalkroom image on the display region 28A of the subject terminal. InFIG. 27, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 determineswhether or not to display the third image in operation S81, but thisprocess may not be performed. For example, without limitation, theterminal 20 may transmit a display permission request in operation S82,without performing the process of operation S81. In this case, theserver 10, for example, without limitation, may execute determinationcorresponding to operation S81. The server 10 may, for example, withoutlimitation, determine whether or not the user of the terminal 20 thattransmitted the display permission request is equivalent to the user ofthe terminal 20 that transmitted the second content. For example,without limitation, this determination may be at least a portion of theprocess of operation S83, or may be a process executed separately fromoperation S83.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are diagrams respectively illustrating processesrelating to the displaying of a second image including a content forwhich displaying of a third image is permitted and processes relating tothe displaying of a second image including a content for whichdisplaying of a third image is not permitted. In this example, it isconsidered that displaying of a third image is permitted on the basis ofinput to a second image including a second content in cases where theuser who has transmitted the second content is equivalent to the user ofthe subject terminal.

The left diagram of FIG. 28A is a diagram illustrating a second Talkroomimage T2 displayed on a terminal 20A. In the second Talkroom image T2,the second content Q4 is a content inputted by user A to be transmitted,and is a content for which it is permitted to display a third image onthe display region 28A of the terminal 20A. The reference sign Q31 is acontent inputted via the terminal 20A. The content Q31 is not associatedwith any other contents, and is different from the second content Q4.

The content Q31 inputted via the terminal 20A and the second content Q4for which displaying of a third image is permitted are displayed on thedisplay region 28A so as to line up the content Q31 and the content Q4in a first direction with respect to the second Talkroom image T2, whichis the second image. For example, without limitation, the firstdirection is the longitudinal direction of the second Talkroom image T2,and a second direction intersecting with the first direction is thelateral direction of the second Talkroom image T2. For example, withoutlimitation, as regards the content Q31 and the second content Q4, thepositions of one end thereof (the right end in FIG. 28) in the seconddirection (the lateral direction in FIG. 28A) of the second Talkroomimage T2 are substantially the same. For example, without limitation,the position of the aforementioned one end of the content Q31 and thatof the second content Q4 in the second direction (the lateral directionin FIG. 28A), are both set on one side (on the right side in FIGS. 28Aand 28B) with respect to the center line CL of the second Talkroom imageT2.

The right diagram of FIG. 28A is a diagram illustrating a secondTalkroom image T12 displayed on a terminal 20C. In the second Talkroomimage T12, the second content Q4 is a content for which it is notpermitted to display a third image, because the user A who hastransmitted the second content is different from the user C that is theuser of the subject terminal. Content Q6 is a content inputted via theterminal 20C. For example, without limitation, the position of one end,in the second direction (the lateral direction in FIG. 28A), of thecontent Q6 inputted via the subject terminal is set on one side (on theright side in FIG. 28A) with respect to the center line CL of the secondTalkroom image T12. For example, without limitation, as regards thecontents Q7 and Q31 and the second content Q4, which were transmitted byobject terminals, the positions of one end thereof (the left end in FIG.28A) in the second direction (the lateral direction in FIG. 28A) of thesecond Talkroom image T12 are substantially the same. For example,without limitation, the position of one end, in the second direction(the lateral direction in FIG. 28A), of each of the contents Q7 and Q31and the second content Q4, which were transmitted by object terminals,is set on the opposite side (on the left side in FIG. 28A) from thecontent Q6 inputted via the subject terminal, with respect to the centerline CL of the second Talkroom image T12.

In FIG. 28A, the reference signs are the same as those in FIG. 28A. Inthe second Talkroom image T2 displayed on the terminal 20A, the secondcontent Q4 for which displaying of a third image is permitted isdisplayed in a manner different from the second content Q4 for whichdisplaying of a third image is not permitted in the second Talkroomimage T12 that is displayed on the terminal 20C. For example, withoutlimitation, each content is displayed as an item wherein the contentbody is placed within a frame (for example, a frame in the shape of aspeech balloon). The second content Q4 for which displaying of a thirdimage is permitted is displayed, for example, without limitation, in amanner such that the color and/or brightness of its frame are/isdifferent from the contents Q6 and Q7 transmitted from object terminals.For example, without limitation, the second content Q4 has a first color(e.g., green) within its frame, whereas the contents Q6 and Q7 have asecond color (e.g., white) different from the first color within theirframes. For example, without limitation, the second content Q4 for whichdisplaying of a third image is permitted may be displayed according tothe same display form as the content Q31 inputted via the subjectterminal, or may be displayed according to a different display form fromthe content Q31 which has been inputted via the subject terminal but isdifferent from the second content.

In the second Talkroom image T12 displayed on the terminal 20C, thesecond content Q4 for which displaying of a third image is not permittedis displayed in a manner different from the content Q6 inputted via thesubject terminal. For example, without limitation, each content isdisplayed as an item wherein the content body is placed inside a frame(for example, a frame in the shape of a speech balloon). The secondcontent Q4 for which displaying of a third image is not permitted isdisplayed, for example, without limitation, in a manner such that thecolor and/or brightness of its frame are/is different from the contentQ6 inputted via the subject terminal. For example, without limitation,the content Q6 has a first color (e.g., green) inside its frame, whereasthe second content Q4 has a second color (e.g., white) different fromthe first color inside its frame. For example, without limitation, thesecond content Q4 for which displaying of a third image is not permittedmay be displayed according to the same display format as the contents Q7and Q31 transmitted from object terminals or may be displayed accordingto a different display format from the content Q6 which has beeninputted via the subject terminal but is different from the secondcontent.

For example, without limitation, a content inputted via the subjectterminal and the second content for which displaying of a third image ispermitted are displayed by the terminal 20 on the display region 28A soas to line up the inputted content and the second content in the firstdirection with respect to the second Talkroom image. With thisinformation processing method, a content that is in a similar positionalrelationship with a content inputted via the subject terminal within thesecond Talkroom image can be visually recognized by the user as a secondcontent for which displaying of a third image is permitted. Thus, theinformation processing method reduces the time and trouble for a user tojudge whether or not a third image can be displayed, thus contributingto improvement of the user's convenience.

As illustrated in FIG. 28A, in cases where the position, in the seconddirection of the second image, of the second content for whichdisplaying of a third image is permitted is different from the positionof a content for which displaying of a third image is not permitted, auser can visually grasp whether or not displaying of a third image ispermitted. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 28B, in cases where thedisplay form, in the second image, of the second content for whichdisplaying of a third image is permitted is different from the displayform of a content for which displaying of a third image is notpermitted, a user can visually grasp whether or not displaying of athird image is permitted. This information processing method can preventa user from inputting a request to display a third image with respect toa content for which displaying of a third image is not permitted. Thus,this information processing method contributes, for example, toimprovement in the user's convenience and reduction in the load on theterminal.

Thirteenth Example Embodiment

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a thirteenth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment is,for example, without limitation, a configuration wherein, after a firstTalkroom image is displayed on the basis of input to a second Talkroomimage, the second Talkroom image is displayed on the basis of input tothe first Talkroom image. For example, without limitation, in caseswhere there is input to the content Q8 based on a first content asillustrated in the upper-left diagram of FIG. 29, the terminal 20displays a first Talkroom image T1 including the first content Q1 asillustrated in the upper-right diagram. For example, without limitation,in cases where there is input to the first content Q1 in the firstTalkroom image T1 that has been displayed on the basis of input to thesecond Talkroom image T2 as illustrated in the lower-left diagram, theterminal 20 displays the second Talkroom image T2 as illustrated in thelower-right diagram.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In the upper-left diagram of FIG. 29, for example, without limitation,the terminal 20 displays a second Talkroom image T2, as a second image,on the display region 28A. Then, for example, without limitation, on thebasis of input to the second Talkroom image T2, the terminal 20 displaysa first Talkroom image T1, as a third image, on the display region 28A,as illustrated in the upper-right diagram. After the first Talkroomimage T1 is displayed on the display region 28A on the basis of input tothe second Talkroom image T2 by the user of the terminal 20, theterminal 20 displays the second Talkroom image T2 on the display region28A on the basis of input to the terminal by the user of the terminal20. For example, without limitation, the second image is displayed onthe display region 28A on the basis of input via the input device 25 ofthe terminal 20 with respect to the first content in the third image.For example, without limitation, in cases where the display region 28Ais a display region of a touch panel and the input device 25 is anoperation unit of the touch panel, the terminal 20 displays the secondTalkroom image T2, as illustrated in the lower-right diagram, in caseswhere it is detected that the first content Q1 in the first Talkroomimage T1 has been tapped, as illustrated in the lower-left diagram.

For example, without limitation, when switching the image to bedisplayed on the display region 28A, the processor 21 of the terminal 20stores, in the storage 24, history information relating to the historyof images displayed on the display region 28A. For example, withoutlimitation, when the image displayed on the display region 28A is to beswitched from the second Talkroom image T2 to the first Talkroom imageT1, the processor 21 stores, in the storage 24, information relating toa content included in the previously-displayed second Talkroom image T2.Further, for example, without limitation, when the image displayed onthe display region 28A is to be switched from the first Talkroom imageT1 to the second Talkroom image T2, the terminal 20 references thehistory information and reproduces the previously-displayed secondTalkroom image T2, and displays the reproduced second Talkroom image T2on the display region 28A. For example, without limitation, in caseswhere there is input to the third image to request displaying of thesecond image, the terminal 20 displays the second image withoutdelivering the Talkroom list image TL as illustrated in the upper-leftdiagram of FIG. 2.

In the aforementioned terminal 20, after the third image (for example,without limitation, the first Talkroom image) is displayed on thedisplay region 28A on the basis of input by the user of the subjectterminal with respect to the second content, the second Talkroom imageis displayed on the display region 28A on the basis of input to thesubject terminal by the user of the subject terminal. According to thisinformation processing method, for example, without limitation, after athird image is displayed after a second image is displayed on thedisplay region 28A of the terminal 20, the user can display the secondimage easily. For example, without limitation, in cases where a user whoviews the second content Q4 included in the second Talkroom image T2, toknow the background history of the second content, the user can make theterminal 20 display the first Talkroom image T1 and can check the firstcontent Q1 or contents before/after the first content, and can theneasily return the display at the terminal 20 back to the second Talkroomimage T2. This information processing method contributes to improvementin the user's convenience. Further, for example, without limitation,this terminal 20 can reduce user operations at the time of switching thedisplay from the third image to the second image, which thereby reducesthe load on the terminal 20.

Further, for example, without limitation, the terminal 20 displays thesecond Talkroom image on the display region 28A on the basis of input tothe first content in the third image by the input unit 23A of thesubject terminal. In this information processing method, for example,without limitation, the first content is a content associated with thesecond content, and the user can display the second Talkroom imageaccording to an input to such a first content. Thus, the inputtingmethod for displaying the third image is easy to understand, and theuser's convenience is improved. Further, for example, withoutlimitation, this information processing method can reduce entry mistakesto the terminal 20 at the time of displaying the third image, andthereby reduce the load on the terminal 20.

In the example of FIG. 29 of the information processing method accordingto the present example embodiment, after the first Talkroom image T1 isdisplayed on the basis of input to the second Talkroom image T2, thesecond Talkroom image T2 is displayed on the basis of input to the firstTalkroom image T1. Methods according to the present inventive concepts,however, are not limited to this example. The terminal 20 may, forexample, without limitation, display the second Talkroom image T2 on thedisplay region 28A on the basis of input to a first Talkroom image T1displayed on the basis of input to a Talkroom list image TL. In caseswhere, for example, without limitation, the first Talkroom image T1includes information Th ({Cited} in FIG. 8(B)) indicating thatinformation relating to the first content Q1 has been transmitted asillustrated in FIG. 8(B), the user can recognize that the first contentQ1 has been cited. The terminal 20 may, for example, without limitation,display the second Talkroom image T2, as illustrated in the lower-rightdiagram of FIG. 29, on the basis of input to the first content Q1, orthe information Th, included in the first Talkroom image T1.

The terminal 20 may display, on the display region 28A, a listindicating the history of images displayed on the display region 28A,and may display, on the display region 28A, the image selected by theuser from the list. The terminal 20 may, for example, withoutlimitation, display a list wherein the names of Talkrooms, whichcorrespond to Talkroom images displayed on the display region 28A, arelined up in the order the contents were displayed. For example, withoutlimitation, by selecting, from the list, the name of the Talkroomcorresponding to the Talkroom image that was displayed before theprevious image (i.e., two images ago), the user can re-display, on thedisplay region 28A of the terminal 20, the Talkroom image that wasdisplayed on the terminal 20 two images ago.

When the second image is displayed on the basis of a desired (oralternatively, predetermined) input to the third image, the manner formaking the desired (or alternatively, predetermined) input is notlimited to the example illustrated in FIG. 29. For example, withoutlimitation, the terminal 20 may display a third image including an iconsuch as {Back}, and may display the second image in cases where tappingof the icon is detected. The desired (or alternatively, predetermined)input may be input other than tapping, and may be, for example, withoutlimitation, input via a mouse operation as the input device 25, input ofaudio using the microphone 26, input of an image captured by the camera27, or input via other input devices.

Fourteenth Embodiment

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an information processing methodaccording to a fourteenth example embodiment. First, an overview of thisexample embodiment will be described. The present example embodiment is,for example, without limitation, a configuration wherein informationrelating to a Talkroom is displayed on the display region 28A in caseswhere an image of a first Talkroom is displayed on the basis of input toan image of a second Talkroom. For example, without limitation, in caseswhere a first Talkroom image T6 is displayed on the basis of input to asecond Talkroom image T7, a terminal 20 displays a second Talkroom imageT7 including, for example, an advertisement relating to the firstTalkroom. For example, without limitation, in cases where the server 10detects that a terminal 20 has displayed a first Talkroom image T6 onthe basis of input to a second Talkroom image T7, the server 10generates a content Q32 relating to the first Talkroom. For example,without limitation, the server 10 transmits the generated content Q32 tothe respective terminals 20 of users in the second group.

Next, the present example embodiment will be described in furtherdetail. The description on the present example embodiment is applicableto the other example embodiments as appropriate. In this exampleembodiment, features similar to those in the foregoing embodiments areaccompanied by the same reference signs and explanation thereon isomitted or simplified, as appropriate.

In the upper-left diagram of FIG. 30, the terminal 20 displays, on thedisplay region 28A, a second Talkroom image T7 as a second image. On thebasis of input to the second Talkroom image T7, the terminal 20displays, on the display region 28A, a first Talkroom image T6 as athird image, as illustrated in the upper-right diagram. After the firstTalkroom image T6 is displayed on the display region 28A on the basis ofinput to the second Talkroom image T7 by the user of the terminal 20,the terminal 20 displays the second Talkroom image T7 on the displayregion 28A, as illustrated in the lower-right diagram, on the basis ofinput to the terminal by the user of the terminal 20, as illustrated inthe lower-left diagram.

The terminal 20 first displays, on the display region 28A, the firstTalkroom image T6 on the basis of input to the second Talkroom image T7by the user of the terminal 20, then displays the second Talkroom imageT7 on the display region 28A on the basis of input to the terminal bythe user of the terminal 20, and then the terminal 20 displays thesecond Talkroom image T7 including information relating to the firstgroup corresponding to the first Talkroom. In the lower-right diagram,the reference sign Q32 indicates a content including informationrelating to the first group. In this example, the Talkroom correspondingto the first group is the Talkroom named {Music}. For example, withoutlimitation, the content Q32 includes, as information relating to the{Music} Talkroom, information in line with the theme of the {Music}Talkroom. For example, without limitation, the content Q32 is a contentgenerated and transmitted by the server 10.

For example, without limitation, the aforementioned terminal 20displays, on the display region 28A, a second image includinginformation relating to the first group in cases where the second imageis displayed again on the basis of input to the third image. In caseswhere the second image is displayed again on the basis of input to thethird image, for example, without limitation, a topic being discussed inthe second group may be related to the first group, and thus, theterminal 20 can provide, to users included in the second group,information relating to the first group as information relating to thetopic being discussed in the second group. Thus, the users included inthe second group are, for example, relieved of the time and trouble tosearch the Internet for information derived from the informationrelating to the first content, and thus, the users' convenience isimproved. Further, the terminals 20 are, for example, relieved ofprocesses required for the users to search the Internet for informationderived from the information relating to the first content.

The technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to theconfigurations described in the foregoing example embodiments. One ormore elements described in the foregoing example embodiments may beomitted. The elements described in the foregoing example embodiments maybe employed in combination as appropriate. To the extent permitted bylaws and regulations in the country/region in which the techniqueaccording to the present disclosure is to be implemented, the entiredisclosure of all documents cited in the foregoing example embodimentsand elsewhere is incorporated herein by reference.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing method to be carriedout by a terminal of a user who is included in a first group including afirst plurality of users and in a second group including a secondplurality of users, the information processing method comprising:displaying a first image including first contents transmitted andreceived among first terminals of the first plurality of users in thefirst group on a display region of the terminal; and transmitting, via acommunication interface of the terminal, information relating to a firstcontent among the first contents included in the first image displayedon the display region, and a second content inputted via the terminal,the second content associated with the first content and included in asecond image including second contents transmitted and received betweensecond terminals of the second plurality of users in the second group.2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein theinformation relating to the first content is transmitted via thecommunication interface in response to the user of the terminaltransmitting the first content.
 3. The information processing methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the firstcontent is transmitted via the communication interface in response tothe first group including at least one user, different from the user ofthe terminal, from among the second plurality of users included in thesecond group.
 4. The information processing method according to claim 1,wherein the second image includes the second content and at least aportion of the first content associated with the second content.
 5. Theinformation processing method according to claim 4, further comprising:generating the second image based on the first content and the secondcontent.
 6. The information processing method according to claim 5,further comprising: determining, by a processor of the terminal, whetheror not to permit transmission of the information relating to the firstcontent.
 7. The information processing method according to claim 1,further comprising: displaying the second image on the display region.8. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein thesecond content is a content including at least one of a text, an image,or audio inputted via the terminal.
 9. The information processing methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: displaying a list of at leastone candidate group for the second group; and transmitting the secondcontent to respective ones of the second terminals of the secondplurality of users included in the second group selected from among theat least one candidate group included in the list.
 10. The informationprocessing method according to claim 9, wherein the at least onecandidate group is associated with identification information of theterminal or of the user of the terminal, and the method furthercomprises displaying one or more respective groups included in the atleast one candidate group in order on the display region of the terminalbased on information relating to the one or more respective groups ofthe at least one candidate.
 11. The information processing methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: displaying a content in thefirst image that is a candidate for the first content on the displayregion, in a manner different from other contents.
 12. The informationprocessing method according to claim 1, further comprising: displayingthe first image on the display region in response to a transmission ofthe information relating to the first content, the first image includinginformation indicating that the information relating to the firstcontent has been transmitted.
 13. The information processing methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: displaying the second image onthe display region; and displaying a third image including the firstcontent associated with the second content on the display region basedon an input of the user of the terminal to the second image displayed onthe display region.
 14. A non-transitory computer readable mediumstoring an information processing program to be executed by a terminalof a user who is included in a first group including a first pluralityof users and in a second group including a second plurality of users,the information processing program, when executed, causing the terminalof the user to: display a first image including first contentstransmitted and received among first terminals of the first plurality ofusers in the first group on a display region of the terminal; andtransmit, by a communication interface of the terminal, informationrelating to a first content among the first contents included in thefirst image displayed on the display region, and a second contentinputted via the terminal, the second content associated with the firstcontent and included in a second image including second contentstransmitted and received between second terminals of the secondplurality of users in the second group.
 15. An information processingmethod to be carried out by a terminal of a user who is included in asecond group including a second plurality of users, the informationprocessing method comprising: displaying a second image including asecond content among second contents transmitted and received amongsecond terminals of the second plurality of users in the second group ona display region of the terminal, the second content being associatedwith a first content in a first image including first contentstransmitted and received from first terminals of a first plurality ofusers included in a first group; and displaying, a third image includingthe first content associated with the second content on the displayregion based on an input of the user of the terminal to the second imagedisplayed on the display region.
 16. The information processing methodaccording to claim 15, wherein the third image is displayed on thedisplay region in response to the user of the terminal transmitting thesecond content.
 17. The information processing method according to claim15, wherein the third image is displayed on the display region inresponse to the first group including at least one user, different fromthe user of the terminal, from among the second plurality of usersincluded in the second group.
 18. The information processing methodaccording to claim 15, further comprising: transmitting a request forpermission to display the third image via a communication interface ofthe terminal; and displaying the third image on the display region basedon receiving a response to the request for permission via thecommunication interface.
 19. The information processing method accordingto claim 15, further comprising: receiving a request for permission todisplay the third image via a communication interface of the terminal;and displaying information relating to whether or not to permit thedisplaying of the third image on the display region.
 20. The informationprocessing method according to claim 15, further comprising: registeringthe user of the terminal into the first group in response to the user ofthe terminal being not included in the first group, wherein thedisplaying a third image includes displaying the third image based on aninput of the user of the terminal with respect to the second content.21. The information processing method according to claim 15, wherein thesecond image includes first information relating to the first content,and the method further comprises displaying second information having alarger amount of information relating to the first content than thefirst information on the display region in response to the displaying ofthe third image not being permitted.
 22. The information processingmethod according to claim 15, further comprising: displaying a contentinputted via the terminal and the second content in order in a firstdirection with respect to the second image on the display region, thesecond content being content for which displaying of the third image ispermitted.
 23. The information processing method according to claim 22,wherein the content inputted via said terminal and the second contentfor which displaying of the third image is not permitted are displayedat positions different from each other in a second direction, the seconddirection intersecting with the first direction.
 24. The informationprocessing method according to claim 15, wherein one second content,from among the second contents, for which displaying of the third imageis permitted is displayed on the display region, in a manner differentfrom another second content, from among the second contents, for whichdisplaying of the third image is not permitted.
 25. The informationprocessing method according to claim 15, further comprising: displayinganother second content among second contents included in the secondimage and information relating to a user who has transmitted the anothersecond content on the display region as a set, the another secondcontent being different from the second content, and causing informationrelating to a user who has transmitted the second content among thesecond contents included in the second image not to be displayed on thedisplay region.
 26. The information processing method according to claim15, further comprising: causing information relating to a user who hastransmitted a content included in the third image on the display regionnot to be displayed on the display region in response to the user of theterminal not being included in the first group.
 27. The informationprocessing method according to claim 15, wherein after the displaying athird image is performed, the displaying a second image includesdisplaying the second image on the display region based on a separateinput to the terminal by the user of the terminal.
 28. The informationprocessing method according to claim 27, wherein the displaying a secondimage displays the second image on the display region based on an inputreceived via the terminal with respect to the first content in the thirdimage.
 29. The information processing method according to claim 15,further comprising: displaying the second image including informationassociated with the first group on the display region in response to thethird image being displayed on the display region based on the input bythe user of the terminal with respect to the second content included inthe second image.
 30. A non-transitory computer readable medium storingan information processing program to be executed by a terminal of a userwho is included in a second group including a second plurality of users,the information processing program, when executed, causing the terminalto: display a second image including a second content among secondcontents transmitted and received among second terminals of the secondplurality of users in the second group on a display region of theterminal, the second content being associated with a first content in afirst image including first contents transmitted and received amongfirst terminals of a first plurality of users included in a first group;and display a third image including the first content associated withthe second content on the display region based on an input of the userof the terminal to the second image displayed on the display region.